by Saxon Andrew
“Gam-L, do not apologize. There are more important things to focus on now.”
“What should we do, Tor-N?”
“Spread the word for everyone to continue to hide and I’ll let you know after my friends and I discuss what options are available.”
“I will remain here until you make the decision. Going back to the community is certain death. The Greng have probes watching and anyone that goes there is attacked by one of their ships.”
Elena looked at Toren’s anguished expression and went over to him and hugged him, “I’m so sorry.” Toren lowered his head on top of hers and closed his eyes.”
“What are we going to do, Gregor?”
“Computer, get Sam and Leonidas on the monitor.” They appeared on the monitor a moment later and Gregor quickly said, “Toren’s community was attacked by Greng Warships, resulting in massive casualties. We are going to see if we can’t return the favor.”
“So, we’re going out the Filament Maker’s escape filament and destroy the probes around it?” Embree asked.
“No, we’re not,” Gregor answered. Toren raised his head and Elena saw his eyes tighten. “I’ve been thinking about that option and I don’t want to send that unknown civilization out searching for them. I believe that they put probes around every major filament leaving this galaxy, including the one that they used to come here.”
Jek smiled, “Do you know which one it is?”
Gregor nodded, “There are two-major-filaments that exit this galaxy through Greng territory. The ten-derelicts are located closer to the one that goes above Greng territory than the one below it.” Gregor paused, “I’ve become concerned that if we take the probes out of the filament the Filament Maker’s mother ships used to leave, this unknown civilization will just bypass the Greng civilization and go in search of the Filament Makers.”
Jek nodded, “By destroying the probes at the filament leading out to this unknown civilization, they will have to believe the Greng caused their destruction.”
Gregor nodded, “Something like that.”
“But, Gregor. The probes that civilization put on the 440-filament detected your first trip into this galaxy. They still might believe the filament makers destroyed their probes.”
“Not if they detect my ship leaving this galaxy before the probes are taken out, Sam. If the ship they detected leaves, then the only ones that could be blamed for their probes’ destruction would be the Greng.”
“You intend to make them think the Greng are in cahoots with the Filament Makers, right?” Embree asked.
“It’s the only logical conclusion they can make from the evidence at hand.” Gregor paused and then shook his head slightly, “We are going to take some shots at a couple of Greng warships before we do this.”
“Why?” Solo asked.
“Because we don’t know for certain the Greng will lose to this new civilization. We need to take their measure before setting this up.”
Solo nodded, “You make a good point.”
“What about this new civilization’s warships, Gregor?”
“Leonidas, we’re going to stick around and wait to see what happens. If this new civilization is clearly more advanced than the Greng, we’ll take a shot at one of their ships while they’re being attacked by the Greng. Once that’s done, we’ll head home to decide what to do next.”
Gregor turned to Toren, “Does this plan meet with your approval?”
“Where are you going to find a Greng warship to attack?”
“I think your community might be a good place to start.”
Toren released Elena, “I look forward to that, Gregor.”
“Now you know that you will not be taking part in firing at the Greng ships?” Gregor turned to Sam on the monitor. “Your duty on this mission is to record what happens and make sure that information gets back,” Sam added. “We promised Angel that both Elena and I would not be placed in danger on this voyage.”
“But Dad!”
“No ‘buts’ Elena. You made a promise.”
Elena lowered her eyes, and said softly, “I will keep it.”
Gregor quickly spoke up, “Then I’m going to allow you and Leonidas to develop the plan needed to attack the Greng warship. However, Toren will leave my ship and allow the Greng probes to detect him at his community. Once that’s done, he will come back on board and we’ll exit the festivities.”
“Fair enough. We’ll start discussing our strategy and let you know when we’re ready to go.”
Toren looked up, “Gam-L, did you hear what we’re discussing.”
“Thank you for sharing it with me, however, may I make another suggestion?”
“What is that?”
“You are too important to risk, Tor-N. I will go to the community and will flee directly between your friend’s vessels.”
“NO!”
“Toren, I’ve betrayed the community and I’m considered an outcast. The only one that communicated with me is now dead. This is the only way I can try to correct the damage I’ve done to my ancestor’s honor. You must allow me to do this.”
Elena turned to Toren, “You’d want him to do it for you.”
Toren snarled and then said, “I will allow you this honor. I will let you know where to appear in the community and what course to take when you flee.”
“Thank you, Tor-N.”
• • •
After a few moments, Gregor asked, “Is he still able to hear us, Toren?”
“Not now.”
“Sam, I am going to put the Dragon Fly on Gam-L’s escape route and I will used my blasters to take out any missiles pursuing him.”
“I don’t know if I like you taking that risk, Gregor?”
We’ll not be detected by the missiles if our full stealth system is active. Add the strength of the new force field and I’m certain we’ll be fine. If not, we’ll move away from them, if they turn, and try to get a lock on us.”
Sam took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, “Keep my daughter safe, Gregor!”
“I will, Sam.”
Elena sighed and sat down in her chair. Gregor looked at her, “Why the heavy sigh?”
“I didn’t want Toren to be in danger. I feel better now that he’s not.” Toren and Gregor stared at her. “He’s part of our family now and I don’t want to lose him.” Solo snorted. Elena turned to him, “What is that about?”
“Why don’t you just admit you have feelings for him.”
“I just did!!” Solo shrugged and Gregor wondered what Solo saw he was missing. Elena turned to her panel and Gregor saw Toren was wondering the same thing.
Chapter Thirty
“Have you come up with a plan?”
“We have, Gregor.” Leonidas answered.
“Care to share it, inquiring minds want to know?”
“When the Greng warship, or ships, are detected approaching this community, where the attack is supposed to happen, Sam’s ship will be waiting with his stealth systems shut down.”
ARE THE TWO-OF-YOU OUT OF YOUR EVER-LOVING MINDS!”
Solo immediately spoke up, “Excellent idea!”
Gregor jerked his head around to Solo, as Sam interjected, “Gregor, we not only have to find out if our weapons can defeat their defenses, but we also have to find out if our ships can withstand their offensive weapons as well.”
“EXACTLY!!” Solo said loudly.
“I WILL NOT RISK LOSING EITHER OF YOU!!”
“Gregor, you need to think about this! Gamgel told us before we left on this scouting mission that our two-new-warships are not coated with Bellingham metal; they are built entirely of it. He insists that he cured the metal with the hottest beams ever used and that they are stronger than any vessel ever built by the Alliance! We have to know if they can withstand the Greng’s blasters and missiles.”
“BUT…”
“How many lives will be lost if they can’t Gregor?”
“But, Sam?”
“If these sh
ips can’t do it, we need to start building ships that can! You know we’re right about this!”
Gregor stared at the four-men on the monitor and saw his closest friends staring back at him. “And which ship will be the lucky one to do this?” Gregor asked sarcastically.
Leonidas shrugged, “We both argued about this and decided to allow fate to decide.”
“Fate?”
“We allowed my computer to choose a number and the closest to the number would be the one to take the Greng’s shots.” Gregor saw Elena shaking her head out of the corner of his eye. I lost, and Sam was closest.”
“NO!!” Elena screamed.
Sam looked at her and smiled, “Honey, if you tell me this isn’t necessary, and use sound reasoning instead of just not wanting me to do it, we’ll listen. But you know it must be done. Sammy could be flying one of these ships, and I owe it to him and all the other crews that might have to face this enemy, to do this.”
“LET LEONIDAS DO IT! HE WANTS TO DO IT!!”
“That’s what I’ve been telling him!” Leo interrupted.
Sam shook his head, “If he lost the guess, I’d have to allow him to do just that. But Leo has a new baby girl and Jek’s wife also has an infant. Do you honestly want me to put them in jeopardy knowing that?” Elena fought her tears and Sam said softly, “All of us are important to the Alliance. Losing any of us will be a blow…but…fate has chosen wisely. Besides, I believe in the Metal of Bellingham. We have to find out if my belief is true.”
“Sam, I’ll send Elena to your ship and I’ll do this with the Dragon Fly.”
Solo snorted loudly. Gregor jerked his head around to him and saw Solo shaking his head, “You’re the most important one here, Gregor. You are the one that brought all of us together, and if you’re lost, the damage would be too much. Besides, you heard Gamgel say this ship is not strong enough. It’s their ships that were built to fight this enemy.”
Gregor blew out a hard breath and lowered his head. “Solo is right, Gregor.”
“Not you too, computer!”
“You’re forgetting that it is this ship that must be detected leaving this galaxy on the Filament Maker’s escape filament. Their ships would be too large, and this new civilization would know there is more than one of our ships here.”
“Damn, I wish you’d miss some things!”
“Sorry.”
Gregor raised his head, “So, tell me how you want to do this?”
“GREGOR!”
“I’m sorry, Elena. They’re right and I can’t make it wrong. Can you?”
Elena glared at him and then lowered her eyes, “No, I can’t.”
“How are you going to do this?” Gregor asked again.
Sam looked at Leonidas and saw him nod. He began speaking, “That friend of Toren will go to the community, as previously planned and will flee the moment a Greng warship is detected moving in. I will shut down the stealth systems just as it arrives and open fire at it. I suspect it will have already fired missiles and they should have an opportunity to get off a blaster shot.”
“What if there is more than one-Greng-warship?” Elena asked softly.”
“Leo will take on the second-ship from behind his stealth systems. He’ll have his force field on as well and will hold off any other warships that might be approaching until I can resolve the fight with the ship I confront.”
“Dad, you will activate your stealth systems, once your ship is hit, right?”
“I will.”
Gregor looked at Toren, “We’ll set up to record what happens, and I want you to tell Gam-L to flee by our ship.” Toren nodded. “If any missiles are pursuing him, we’ll attempt to take them out.”
“Gregor, don’t take any chances that would cause this data to be lost.”
“I won’t, Sam. We’ll fire on the move, so we can’t be tracked.” Gregor turned to Elena, “I’m depending on you to take out any missiles.” Elena nodded, as she stared at her father on the monitor. “When do you want to do this?”
“There’s no reason to delay. Let’s do it.”
“Ok, Sam. Take your two-ships to the community and set up on the coordinates my computer will send you in a moment. We’ll move into position and Toren will tell Gam-L to go to the community.”
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, Daddy.”
“May I offer a small suggestion?”
Everyone looked at Solo. “What is that, Gregor asked.”
“I’m not trying to make Embree feel bad, but he is a strategic mind, and he is the only one on this mission that has not had his body changed by Gem. His reflexes are nowhere near as good as my own and I might be a better weapon’s operator during this engagement. Perhaps you might allow me to take his place with Leonidas.”
“You’ve not been trained on the new ships, Solo.”
“Gregor, the plans for the new warships are in my database and Solo started going through the training tutorials before we left Bellingham. His scores have been quite impressive,” the computer announced.
Leo’s head went back slightly, and he looked at Embree. “He’s right, Leo. Computer, do you have a record of my training scores?”
“I do.”
“How do they compare to Solo’s scores?”
“Well…uhhh…”
“Out with it, computer!” Gregor quickly ordered.
“Solo’s scores are superior to Embree’s scores.”
“How superior?” Embree asked.
“He’s tripled your scores.”
Embree looked at Leonidas, “Your safety is more important to me than my own. If he increases the odds of your survival, we should do this.”
Gregor looked at Solo, “Do you really want to put yourself in this danger?”
Solo was still for a moment and then clacked, before responding, “This fight is not only for the survival of your Alliance. It’s also for the survival of the Kingdom, along with my crew and family on Bellingham. You’ve shown me the lesson you wanted me to learn, Gregor. I do not see you and your people as not being honorable. This is something that I must do.”
Gregor stared at him and smiled softly before turning to Leonidas, “I’ll dock with your ship and make the transfer.”
“Before you do that.”
“What is it Jek?”
“Computer, how does Solo’s scores compare to my scores?”
“He’s doubled yours.”
“Then he should be with the ship put in the most danger. I’ll join Leonidas and Solo will go with Sam.”
Solo smiled, “I was hoping someone would make this suggestion.”
Gregor released a heavy sigh, “Sam, I’ll dock with you first, then go to Leo’s ship.”
“I welcome your assistance, Solo.”
“I’ll do my best, Sam.” The monitor went dark and Solo looked at Elena, “I will not allow your father to die.”
Elena rushed over to Solo and hugged his large thorax, “Thank you! Thank you so much?” Solo put his front two-legs around Elena and hugged her.
• • •
An hour later, Gregor looked at Toren and nodded. “Gam-L.”
“Yes, Tor-N.”
“You will go directly to the center of the community and remain there until a Greng warship arrives and fires missiles at you. You will wait to flee until they are close to your location and, when I tell you, you will flee on the exact route you used to go to the community.”
“I will not be able to outrun them, Tor-N.”
“Just do as I ask.”
“I will.”
“Gam-L.”
“Yes.”
“It’s important that you not refuse to flee. Our plan hinges on you doing as I’ve asked.”
Gam-L hesitated and then replied, “I was going to allow the missile to hit me. Is it critical that I not do that?”
“Yes!”
“I will do as you ask.”
“Thank you, my friend. Now, go to the community at your fastest speed and wait for my call to flee.” Toren turned to Gregor, “He’s on the way.”
“I can see him on my scanner,” the computer interjected.
“Do you see the probes the Greng left behind?”
“I can, Gregor.”
“Let me know when they start broadcasting.”
Gregor waited, and the computer announced a minute later, “Gam-L is in the community and the closest probe has started transmitting.”
“Showtime! Start the recordings computer, and Elena, focus on your blaster board.” Elena had the direct-connect helmet on her head, which allowed the scanners to feed a view of space around the Dragon Fly directly into her brain. “Computer, let me know if you see…”
The computer interrupted him, “Greng Warship moving in at high speed, Gregor. It just launched two-missiles at Gam-L.”
“FLEE, GAM-L, NOW!!” Toren shouted.
“The Greng Warship is slowing to track the missiles it fired.”
Gam-L left the community at high-speed with both missiles following him. They were gaining on him and the computer said loudly, “Sam’s ship just appeared directly in front of the Greng warship and opened fire with its blasters.”
Elena ignored the computer’s announcements and focused on the two-missiles moving across their bow. She pressed two-buttons on her keyboard and two-brilliant blasters beams lept out and hit the two-missiles, causing a massive explosion that rocked the Dragon Fly. “Continue to record, computer and put it on the monitor!” Gregor ordered.
Gregor saw Sam’s ship being hit by multiple blaster beams and missiles. The explosions were huge, but he saw that most of the Greng missiles and blaster beams were missing Sam’s ship as he darted out of their paths. The same couldn’t be said for the Greng Warship.
• • •
Sam saw the Greng Warship come to a stop directly in front of his ship and he shut down the stealth systems and opened fire with one blaster. Prior to the Greng’s arrival, Sam had activated every thruster on the ship. The upper and lower wing thrusters were firing and keeping the ship in place with their balanced thrust. He also had the front and rear thrusters firing keeping the ship in place. He reduced the upper wing thrusters slightly and the ship instantly moved above the blasters being fired at his ship. He moved the ship left and twenty-missiles blew through the space he just vacated. He focused on moving the ship out of danger while Solo announced the results of his efforts.