by Saxon Andrew
“Atlas, are you still here?”
“I am.”
“I can see why you wanted to wait for us to view your scouting report before asking questions.”
“Why don’t we wait for Danielle to join us, Tag?”
Tag nodded slightly and thought about the data. Ten-minutes later, Danielle opened her eyes. She raised her chair and heard Alex state, “Cassie is still receiving her download. I wanted you to have time to decide, if she would be allowed to view the data.”
Danielle turned to Tag and he shook his head saying, “No! There’s too much death!”
“Are you going to tell her?” Danielle asked.
“I will. I’m also telling her that she is going to go to Bristone and enroll in school there, while we get things set up here.”
“How do you think she’ll take that?”
“Not well, but we’re responsible for her development and school is a vital part of it.”
Danielle nodded and said, “Alex, stop her transfer.”
“Ending it now.”
Tag thought, “Atlas, what’s your take on what you recorded?”
“The Realm and Bristone are vastly outnumbered by all three of the enemies it will have to face. Cassie was right about the DECs being the first hurdle that must be cleared. You’re pretty much dead in the water until you can make that happen. I also believe that the Black Warships in this universe will soon be withdrawing, which will release the full number of creatures to resume their attacks. They’ll wrap up in the Algean Galaxy quickly and be arriving in the Milky Way soon after the last of the Black Ships leave. They will then commence attacking the planets we’ve not defended.”
Danielle was silent as Tag said softly, “We’ve counted more than a billion DECs invading this part of our universe.”
“How many warships do you have to use against them?”
Tag looked up and Alex answered Atlas, “We currently have a bit more than five-million-warships equipped with new blasters and Corornado Fields.”
“That’s less than one-half of one-percent of the DECs,” Atlas noted.
Cassie opened her eyes and raised her chair. She listened to the conversation and turned to Danielle with her eyes slightly wider. Danielle saw her, “No, you are not going to see the other recordings!” Tag’s eyes narrowed and Danielle felt him glaring at her, “She looked at me first.” Tag rolled his eyes and leaned back, as Danielle turned back to Cassie, “There’s too much death and destruction and I don’t see a valid reason for your seeing it.”
Cassie shrugged, “Ok, if you say so.” Tag, Danielle, Alex, Grace, and Atlas were all surprised by her quick acceptance of Danielle’s decision. Cassie saw their surprise and raised her shoulders, “You are my parents and I know you have my welfare at heart.”
“There’s something else, Cassie.”
“What is that, Father?”
“We’re taking you to Bristone and entering you in school.”
Cassie’s eyes narrowed and Alex asked, “Cassie, where were you when you saw your parents die?” Cassie jerked her head toward the wall-speaker and was silent.
Danielle tilted her head toward Cassie and asked, “Where were you, Cassie?”
Cassie glared at the speaker and said softly, “I was in school. I saw it on a monitor there.”
“Why were you there?” Alex asked.
Cassie didn’t reply and Tag said, “Your parents knew being in school was more important than taking you with them.”
Cassie lowered her head and nodded slightly, as Danielle went to her chair, scooped her into her arms, and said softly, “We believe your education is vital to your development, as well.”
“I can use the transfer band to learn; I don’t need to go to Bristone! I want to stay here with you,” she pleaded.
Danielle reached and raised Cassie’s face to hers. She looked in her eyes and smiled, “We learned thousands of years ago that learning information and data isn’t enough to prepare you for life. Social interaction is critical to becoming a well-rounded and wise person.”
“But I don’t want to leave you!!”
“We’ll be coming every holiday to see you. We want to see you just as much as you want to be with us.”
“Promise!!”
Danielle smiled, “I do.” Cassie hugged Danielle’s neck and she saw Tag staring at her with raised eyebrows. Danielle shook her head slightly and Tag nodded. They would later decide together when to send her to Bristone.
Danielle stood up and went back to her chair, as Cassie turned to Tag, “You must have found the civilization attacking the Black Planets?”
Tag saw her staring at him and he paused before saying, “We have.”
Cassie blinked and asked, “How do they match up to the Black Civilization?”
“Worse…much worse, Cassie.” Cassie’s expression turned serious and she sat back in her chair. Tag asked, “Atlas, can we depend on your support if we’re confronted by the Yellow Civilization?”
“I’ve already determined you’re going to need it. I’m taking this information to the Captors and see if they would also be willing to help, as well.”
Alex entered the conversation, “I don’t see us having to face them for a very long time, Atlas. Their universe is extremely far from us.”
“Alex, it might happen faster than you think?”
“Why is that?”
“Those Black Warships have the Realm’s coordinates in their databanks. All it would take is for a Yellow Warship to examine one of the Black Ship’s computers and they’d find out about you. Capturing just one damaged Black Warship would do it.”
“So far, the data shows the damaged Black Warships suicide against the Yellow Ships before they can be examined,” Grace announced.
“What are the odds of every damaged Black Warship still having working thrusters?” Atlas asked. His question was greeted with silence and he continued, “The Black Civilization has been destroyed in every galaxy in their universe except for the one fighting them now. It’s only a matter of time until they’re defeated and the Yellows will have all the ships they need to examine.”
“I don’t know if their destruction would be a bad thing.”
“Why do you say that, Grace?”
“Atlas, get real. The Black Civilization is going out and attacking numerous universes as we speak. They’re just as evil as the Yellow Civilization.”
“Tag, do you want to explain how she’s wrong?” Atlas asked. “She’ll take it better from you.”
“What do you mean I’m wrong!? Look at how many died on Ross!”
“Tag?” Atlas pleaded.
Danielle and Cassie turned to Tag and he sighed, “Atlas is right, Grace. The Black Civilization is only doing what it must.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Grace was shocked by Tag’s statement.
“Grace, the Black Warships only attack large cities on the planets they invade. Why do they do that? On most planets they attack, there are smaller cities and villages scattered across the planet they totally ignore.” Tag paused, looked around, and then asked, “What is the purpose of a Black Warship attack.” His question was greeted with silence. He waited a moment and continued, “They attack large metropolitan areas to collect all the metal and exotic alloys to take back to their manufacturing facilities to build their warships.”
“They don’t have to do that, Tag. They could trade for them.”
“Grace, they probably did trade for them in the distant past but you’ve seen their planets. All, and I do mean all, of their domestic output is totally devoted to building warships. They don’t have anything to trade.”
“Well, they could ask for the materials.”
“Grace, are you serious?” Tag asked.
“They could!!”
“What do you think the former leaders of the Realm would have told them if they came begging for metals and alloys?”
Danielle, who had remained silent, instantly replied, “They would ha
ve been told to go and pound sand.”
Tag added, “Or…they would have demanded they trade warships for what they needed; warships they could not afford to lose. The Black Civilization knew the only way to get the construction materials they need was to go out and take them.”
They actually heard a sigh over the wall speaker, before Alex said, “They’re right, Grace. If your family were going to be attacked and the only blaster to defend them was owned by your neighbor, and he refused to give it to you, what would you do?”
“Move in with him?” she suggested.
“Sorry not enough room.”
“Ask him to come and defend me.”
“He doesn’t know you and could care less what happens to you.”
“ALEX, YOU ACT LIKE THEY’RE NOT TO BLAME!!”
“What is the purpose of life, Grace?!”
“To be fruitful and multiply.”
“That’s the second rule. The first rule of life is to survive.”
The bridge was silent and Tag broke it, “We led the Black Warships to another universe to keep them from finding us. How is that different from what they’re doing?”
“You’re right; I see what you’re saying. I hate to admit it but during the time I was away, Alex learned things I don’t know anything about. I’m just a lowly computer and I need time to figure things out.” Danielle burst out laughing and Grace asked, “What’s so funny?”
“You are far from a ‘lowly’ computer. You just want to make them pay for what they did to Ross.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Grace, have you figured out how many lives have been saved by having the Black Warships in our universe? By being staked out by the DECs, millions of planets aren’t being attacked.”
“I guess some good comes out of bad things.”
“So, what happens now?” Alex asked.
“How many training chairs are in our conference room?”
“Sixty,” Danielle.”
“That should be enough.”
“For what?” Tag asked.
“I’m calling an emergency meeting of all our senior leaders on our ship. We’re going to show them what we’ve seen and start making some decisions on what to do.”
“Do you honestly think the Emperor is going to come to Ross with all of his senior military staff?!”
“The former Emperor wouldn’t but James will come.” Danielle lifted a microphone from her console and started speaking. She finished and looked up, “Alex, copy what I’ve said and send it out in a sliver to the Communication Facility. Include the names of the top civil and military leaders who need to be here.”
“Do you think this is safe?” Grace asked
Danielle nodded, “Give them the coordinates to teleport just outside the planetary field. You might suggest they bring two-hundred thousand Primes with them to insure they aren’t attacked.”
“I’ve just launched the sliver.”
“Let me know when you receive an answer.”
• • •
Ten-hours later, Kogo arrived on a Prime and teleported to the Kosiev. Tag greeted him on the bridge with a hug and Kogo thought to Tag, “Bringing the Leaders from Bristone to Ross isn’t going to happen.”
“Why not?”
“James ordered me to tell you that leaving the safety of the Dark Dimension to come to Ross will cause many of his subjects to question his sanity. The Black Ships and Creatures are in the Realm and it’s just not good judgement to place an Emperor in that jeopardy.”
“We’re here!” Tag replied.
“Yes, you are, but James says your Realm is also here. You’re asking James to leave Bristone and go to a dangerous place. He says putting all of our leadership in danger here is not a good decision.”
“So, you agree with him?”
“Tag, the Emperor went out on a limb for you and sent most of our warships with you to defend the Realm because of the great danger here. Are you suggesting that danger no longer exists? If he tells his subjects there isn’t any danger, they will demand he recall the forces he sent with you. You need to give a little and go to him to have this meeting.”
“Who will we leave in command while we’re gone, Kogo?”
“Leave one of your Junior Admirals in charge and make sure they send a sliver if anything pops up. You can get back in less than ten-minutes if anything goes bad.”
Tag stared at Kogo and then thought, “Are you hearing this?”
Danielle answered instantly, as she teleported to the bridge, “I am.”
“How do you feel about leaving Ross?”
“If we leave, it would cause a panic among the survivors.”
“I sense the same thing.”
Danielle shrugged, “If the meeting is on Bristone, we won’t go to the meeting. We’ll remain here.”
“Your Majesty, you must be present to maintain control of the meeting. There will be too many powerful beings there and it could turn out to be mayhem,” Kogo replied to Danielle’s comment.
“Kogo, we’ve recognized what would happen if Tag and I were to die and have taken steps to minimize the loss. However, we have chosen the ones that would replace us and it’s time they got their hands dirty and started learning to make tough decisions. Jimmy and Lola will go to Bristone with our senior leaders. They will represent the Realm at the meeting.”
“I mean no disrespect, Your Majesty, but Jimmy and Lola are not you and Tag. I doubt they can maintain order.”
“Kogo, you flew with them on the Grang. Did they keep order there?”
“I was in command.”
“Whose idea was it to leave El Prado and defend Earth?” Tag asked.
Kogo hesitated before answering, “It was Jimmy’s idea and he started issuing orders without getting my approval. However, I stopped him and made the final decision.”
“That’s because you were in command. If Jimmy were in command, what do you think would have happened?”
Kogo was silent and Danielle answered Tag’s question, “You would have been ordered to go to Earth and defend it. Besides, James will be there and he’ll make sure things don’t get out of control.”
“Is this meeting important, Your Majesty?”
“The future of the Realm and Bristone will depend on what’s decided,” Danielle answered.
“If that’s the case, your absence makes me extremely nervous.”
“I’ll tell Jimmy to send me a sliver if things get out of hand. We’ll come if absolutely necessary.”
Kogo relented, “Fair enough. When do you want to have the meeting?”
“Tomorrow morning at ten.”
“I’ll go back and inform the Emperor.”
“Tell him that he’ll need a transfer module available for every attendee.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Kogo teleported out to his Prime and it disappeared a moment later. Tag looked up, “Alex, tell Jimmy and Lola to teleport here immediately.”
A moment passed and Alex announced, “They want to know if they can finish what they’re working on?”
“NO! TELL THEM TO COME NOW!” Danielle said forcefully.
A moment later, Jimmy and Lola appeared on the Kosiev’s bridge and their faces were red. Neither liked having their request ignored. They bowed and Jimmy said, “Your Majesty, we were just…”
Danielle interrupted him, “Both of you will immediately go to our command chairs and place the transfer bands on the consoles around your heads!” Jimmy’s brow furrowed and he noticed Lola was bothered by Danielle’s tone. He nodded to Lola and they walked to the command chairs and put the bands around their heads. Danielle walked over and pushed the recline button on each of the chairs as she said, “I don’t have time to answer any questions. You’re about to see a scouting report that Atlas made in the Black Warship’s Universe. It’s going to take four-hours and we’ll discuss it after it’s done.”
Jimmy and Lola’s eyes widened and, then, they closed as the transfer began. Ta
g turned to Danielle, “You could have taken the time to explain what’s going on.”
“Tag, if we die, who is going to take time to explain things to them. I need to see how they handle this stress without any forewarning.”
Tag tilted his head and winked at Danielle, “You’re right again. Where’s Cassie?”
“She’s in the kitchen. I swear she has a hollow leg with as much as she eats.”
“Let’s join her until the transfer is complete.” Danielle smiled as they teleported to the kitchen.
Chapter Eight
Tag and Danielle were already on the bridge when Jimmy and Lola opened their eyes. Both remained silent as Jimmy and Lola raised their chairs and regained their senses. Jimmy saw the Gardners maintaining their silence and he glanced over at Lola before saying, “This is a test, isn’t it?” Danielle nodded. Jimmy continued, “You want to know what we would do if we didn’t have you to depend on for answers.” Danielle didn’t respond to him.
Lola’s anger was immediate, “Your disrespect of Jimmy is unappreciated; if you don’t trust us, find someone else to be your successors.”
Jimmy turned to Lola, “If they didn’t trust us, they wouldn’t have allowed us to see these recordings.”
Lola turned to him, “But…”
Jimmy reached across and took her hand, “They need to know what we’d do if we were confronted with this information and they weren’t here to help us.” Lola glared at him, looked at the Gardners, and turned back to Jimmy. She took a deep breath and nodded. Jimmy turned to the Gardners, “The rest of our senior leaders must be brought up to speed on this as quickly as possible.”
“How would you do that, Jimmy?” Tag asked in a neutral voice.
“Well, the leaders in the Dark Dimension will not come here and sending the data for them to view without being there to discuss it would be a mistake.”
“Why?” Danielle asked.