by Saxon Andrew
“I’ve been growing it since I was ten years old. I usually keep it tied up but didn’t have time to do it.”
“It really looks good on you, Captain. You should wear it down more often.”
“Thank you, Sir.” She looked at the monitor, “What’s going on?”
“The ship’s commander has requested a shuttle to bring him materials to refuel his reactors. He was forced to overload them in order to outrun the white ships pursuing him. He has sent his recordings to the Supreme Leader and is waiting for him to tell him what to do.”
Steve listened to Poul and stared at the monitor, “Did you manage to intercept the recording?”
“I did but it doesn’t show anything we don’t already know. I can now see several thousand other ships at the edge of my scanning range moving this way.”
“Start recording and let’s hope the Supreme Leader doesn’t want to start questioning them on the planet.”
“I might be able to listen in on that meeting if he does?”
Steve and Lani looked at each other. Steve said, “How would you do that?”
“I would need to move close to the planet and focus my passive scanner at the place where the meeting is taking place. I should be able to detect the vibrations of their voice and my translation program can convert them to words.”
“When did you learn about being able to do this?”
“That’s how I was able to hear the Traugh Fleet Admiral sending orders in Andromeda. I discovered it by accident.”
“You are just full of wonders.”
“Aren’t I though.”
Lani chuckled and Steve shook his head. “Take us in and let’s see what we can find out.”
They looked at the monitor and saw the planet rush toward them at an incredible speed. Steve was proud he no longer gripped the chair arm and Lani didn’t grab his arm. He hoped she would but it didn’t happen.
• • •
The Chosen Leader looked at the fleet controllers gathered in his chamber and then looked up at the twenty monitors lining the wall. It had taken three days to gather all the participants and he was angry at the delay. Some of those grey ships that attacked the conquered planet had managed to escape and it was not clear that they had come from the spiral galaxy two hundred million light years away. This was unprecedented. Whatever civilization had sent them to his galaxy must be highly advanced to send that many warships across the vast space between the galaxies. Something would need to be done to prevent their reappearance.
He sat at his huge desk and pressed the communication button and turned a knob to increase the volume where the gathered military leaders could hear, “I see everyone is now present; I’ve sent everyone a copy of the recordings gathered during our recent battle with warships from the Spiral Galaxy. My scientists have been able to ascertain that the warships we fought are more advanced than our own.”
“Then how were we able to defeat them?”
Gogh looked at the row of monitors and saw that Cregen was the one who had spoken. The scizet never missed an opportunity to show him up. His desire to be the Chosen to lead never ended. “Victory was achieved because we outnumbered them three to one at the end of the conflict. They had a hundred thousand warship and only four or five thousand escaped.”
“Then how can you sit there and saw they are more advanced?”
• • •
Gogh hoped he would push the point and he looked directly at Cregen’s monitor, “We lost two hundred and eighteen thousand warships in the fighting.” He stared at Cregen in silence and saw him cringe. Cregen leaned back in his chair and Gogh turned back to his monitor, “I trust that will be the last unrecognized interruption.” He glanced at his monitor and saw the hatred on Cregen’s face. His large round eyes were little more than slits in his wide face. Even his ears were pulled back. Good. He deserved it. “The scientist’s analysis has determined that their ships are faster, have a slightly more powerful force field, and the beams they fire are fifty percent more powerful than our own. It took two of our ships attacking together to defeat one of their vessels.” He looked around and said, “We need to decide how to handle the next invasion of this civilization. The floor is open to comments.”
Gogh was looking at the monitors and missed the Nest Leader standing up. He stood there for a moment and said loudly, “Why are we waiting for them to attack again? We should gather out forces and go and remove this threat.”
Groh looked at the Nest Leader and was impressed with his chest plumage and the feathers lining his legs. He was a very powerful looking Asengo and few could display as effectively. Groh waited for another to answer and after a long silence it was clear no one was going to speak. He looked at the highest ranking Nest Commander and leaned back in his chair, “Well, there’s the issue of the Mororat learning that we have sent our fleets out of the galaxy and attacking in their absence. There is also the small issue of what happens if we don’t send enough ships to defeat this enemy. There’s no way they could be reinforced that far away and you need look no further than the battle we just fought with them to see the importance of a short line of support. That is why that attack was stopped. You should also consider that we know nothing about the size and scope of the civilization that sent those ships here. How would you know how many ships to send?”
“We send as many as we can spare?”
Groh looked at the monitors, “How many of you are willing to contribute half of your warships to attack this enemy in its galaxy.” The Nest Leader looked at the monitors and saw none of the Planet Leaders made a move. Groh said, “Ok, what about a third?” He paused and then said, “A tenth of your forces?” Two Planet Leaders raised one of their wings. The Nest Leader stared at the monitors and fought showing his disgust. Groh looked at the Nest Leader, “We have enough enemies here that we would embolden them if we sent a large nest to attack that galaxy.”
Cregen said, “After the magnitude of this defeat, that civilization may just cut their losses and never come back.”
Groh saw more than ten of the Leaders nod. He waited for further remarks and said, “It does appear we are not going to send a force to attack that galaxy. However, each planet will provide a hundred warships to move out into intergalactic space to keep a vision on that galaxy. Ten ships will space themselves out and keep an open communication channel with the line of listeners. We will maintain this line for the next year and then decide if we should continue it.”
Critzen said, “Who will pay for this?”
Groh smiled, “All of us if we’re surprised by this enemy again. And all of us will pay for the ships we send.” Silence dominated the room and Groh forced himself not to smile as the other Leaders sent their votes in to support the suggestion. Poor Critzen had lost face again. Groh preened his right arm as the monitors went dark. Critzen was past rage and his monitor went dark last. Groh looked at the Nest Leader, “I want you to send a claw of ships to take a look at that galaxy.”
“They could be overwhelmed if they’re seen by that enemy.”
“Link the ships at the edge of their communication range. Those ships aren’t that much faster than our own and you should be able to get a message out.”
The Nest Leader lowered his hooked beak and said, “You are wise to do this.”
“We have the most to lose so we have to do more.”
“Yes, Chosen Leader.”
Groh dismissed the Nest Leaders and sat back in his chair. Those strange ships didn’t retreat until there was no other choice. They fought to the death but weren’t stupid doing it. They would be coming back for a rematch. He would have to be ready when they did.
• • •
The Supreme Leader sat in his chamber with all of the major fleet leaders present. His body guard stood next to his chair and he constantly kept his eyes moving around the room. The Fleet Leader that commanded the two fleets sent to Andromeda finally arrived with most of his defense warships missing. The Supreme Leader looked at the
assembly and started the recording of the attack. At one point he paused it, “Tell me what happened here?”
The Fleet Leader stood up, “Great Leader, we destroyed the first three waves of ships that arrived. At this point, twenty thousand of the white warships arrived and caught my fleets in the middle of a huge space battle. It was impossible to reform into ranks and they fell on my ships. We destroyed three quarters of them but then, as you’ll see in a few moments, another forty thousand white ships arrived and the situation was hopeless. They outnumbered us six to one and I called for a retreat to ensure you would be warned of what was happening.”
The Supreme Leader restarted the recording and reevaluated his decision to execute the Fleet Leader for his loss of the two fleets. It was clear after a few minutes that he was wise to send his ship away. The recording ended and he looked at the gathering, “If this enemy has that many warships, why have they not attacked us since we destroyed the demon ship?”
The room was silent and is body guard said behind him, “Perhaps they are profit driven and didn’t wish to pay the price of the energy needed to come here.”
The Supreme Leader turned and looked at his huge body guard, “Why do you say that?”
“They never sent one of their own ships. They sent a ship that was stolen from us and didn’t risk any of their own. After that ship’s success, they may have felt that we did not represent a real danger to them and decided it wasn’t worth the price to send a large invasion force here.”
The Supreme Leader stared at him and didn’t know if he was taking a shot at removing the ownership of all Traugh Warships from the Traugh that flew them and putting them into the Empire’s control. However, what he said did make sense. Then the body guard said, “It probably didn’t help that one of our ships flew close to the Bad Luck Planet prior to sending the fleet.”
The Supreme Leader’s eyes narrowed and he said, “When did this happen!?
“A week before the fleets left, one of Roar’s ships passed close by that planet.”
The Supreme Leader jerked around and looked at Roar who was almost shaking in fear, “IS THIS TRUE!”
Roar bowed his head, “I recalled the ship and it took a shorter route that passed through that planet’s system, Great Leader.”
The Supreme Leader didn’t really believe in superstitions but he felt something inside that made his lungs tighten. “After this meeting, you will go and execute the two that flew that vessel along with every member of their immediate family. If this happens again, it won’t be the crew that’s executed!” He stared at the gathering and sat back in his chair. “We must go and see what we’re up against. I want ten thousand ships dispatched and sent on a high route that will avoid the space directly between that galaxy and ours. Since you’ve determined our scanners have a much longer range, I want that part of the galaxy where that planet is located searched from long range for other planets where the white ships are located.” He looked at the defeated Fleet Admiral, “Did you manage to get the frequency they were using to communicate?”
“I did, Great Leader.”
He turned back to the gathering, “Have the scouts search for the presence of that frequency. Do not engage them but return immediately if you discover one of their planets.” He stared at the gathering and walked out of the chamber.
Long Claw put his hand on Roar’s shoulder, “I really thought we were going to lose you.”
“I did as well, my friend.” Roar stood on shaky legs and left to carry out his orders. His uncle would not allow him another mistake. He would make certain another wasn’t made. The executions would be broadcast to his fleet to ensure no one else made the same error in judgment. The executions would need to take longer than normal to get the point driven home.
• • •
Lani shook her head, “It is really amazing that the Prophet’s Home World has survived at all.”
“The Prophet said that the first Traugh Dictator had a nightmare about it. He dreamed that he approached it in a ship and fired at the planet. When the beam hit, the planet exploded into billions of demon warships that eradicated his species. He ordered that no Traugh Warship would ever come near that planet.”
“It must have been a very realistic dream.”
Steve nodded, “What’s surprising is that the Dictators that followed him still enforce that law. This will only make that law carry more force. The Kindred are safe.”
Lani nodded, “For the moment.” Steve nodded. You just never knew what the Traugh would do next. “Sir, you might want to start editing your comments into the recordings we’ve made so you can send them at the appropriate time.”
Steve tilted his head, “We’ll send this one as soon as I edit it. We’ll save the recording from the NE for later.”
“Where do you want to go now?”
“We need to go back to Andromeda and see what the Traugh are up against. It really seems like the laws of probability have been stretched for them to encounter an aggressive civilization so quickly. Probability would have seemed to dictate that they would have taken much longer to find a civilization that advanced that far out from the core. Poul, do you agree?”
“I must say I do. Where do you want to start?”
“Take us back to that planet with the million warships around it.” Steve saw Lani briefly close her eyes as the bright flash lit the viewport. He needed to start doing the same to save his vision. They arrived and saw hundreds of warships lifting from the planet and heading in different directions. “What’s going on, Poul?”
“It appears we just missed a meeting of this civilization’s leadership. The ships leaving are Fleet Commanders going back to their fleets.”
“Did you manage to lock on some of them?”
“I did. I’m also hearing them complain about having to send a hundred of their warships to set up an early warning line out from the galaxy.”
Lani shook her head, “You can label the Traugh as being a lot of things but stupid isn’t one of them. That Supreme Leader anticipated they would do this and is sending his scouts on a long voyage to here.”
“You’re right Lani. Sending just a hundred ships per fleet will not nearly cover the space between the two galaxies. The Traugh scouts will probably not be seen.”
“Poul, how do you know which line will take you to one of their home worlds instead of a conquered planet?”
“I didn’t anticipate that. You might want to see both.”
“Well, pick one and let’s see what we get.”
“Those ships are still in my scanner range. I’ll follow one like I did last time until I can lockdown the course.” The stars started streaking by and they saw a large white warship flying in front of them. The stars were streaking by and Steve looked at Lani, “I’m going to start editing at your console. Call me if something happens.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Steve went to her console and began dictating into the recorder. He picked his words carefully and made sure he said the Traugh were probably right about sending their ships on the high course to Andromeda, anticipating the White Ship Civilization would put out a line of ships in open space to give them an early warning.
He wondered if hiding Poul’s capabilities was the right thing to do. It might be that Earth would need more ships like this. Then he remembered his great-great grandfather’s warning and decided that he was doing the right thing. Time would tell. He glanced at Lani’s back as she stared out of the front viewport and saw her hair touching the floor behind her chair. He shook his head and focused on the message.
Chapter Eleven
Steve finished the editing and walked to his chair. He looked up, “You haven’t locked on a course yet?”
“I don’t believe this ship is headed toward a planet.”
“Then where is it going?”
“The ship’s commander is not using his communicator so I can’t really determine where he’s going. However, I did hear him communicating with a warship as he l
eft the planet. We should stay with it until it reaches its destination.”
“What’s bothering you, Poul? I know you’ve done an analysis of the possibilities.”
“I think it’s improbable but I’m starting to believe that this ship is moving out into open space.”
“Why?”
“There are a couple of possibilities that are obvious. One is that it’s going to meet a fleet that’s moving from one location to another.”
“And the other?”
“It’s going to join a blockade. I’ve just started receiving a return on my scans. There is a huge line of white warships holding their positions. I’m accelerating to their location.” Steve stared at the main monitor and saw the blips at the edge of the screen. They moved quickly down the monitor and he began seeing the ships in the tactical monitor. Steve stared at the long line of white warships disappearing in the distance. There was a two mile separation between the white ships and the monitor showed that there were more than two hundred thousand ships in the long line.
“Poul, fly past this line and see what’s in front of them.” The stars began streaking past the viewport and he glanced at the main monitor and saw a long line of blips on the edge. In an instant, the Eyes arrived over the second line and Steve shook his head. There was a long line of dark grey ships holding position in another long line. “Poul, what’s the odds of two advanced civilizations being located this close to each other?”
“The odds are impossible.”
“Have you been able to intercept any communications from the white ships that would tell us what they’re doing here?”
“It appears that they are enforcing a negotiated border between the two civilizations. I’m working on the language being used by the grey ships.”
“Can you do that and still talk?”
“I can.”
“What does this mean?”
“It appears there are two evenly matched civilizations that have stopped warring between each other. It’s clear that neither side has a real advantage over the other.”