by Saxon Andrew
The six sat down and Embree looked at Randy, “I didn’t expect you back this quickly.”
“Sir, we’ve collected some information that I deemed important enough to get back and not run the risk of losing it if we’re discovered. We can always go back out.”
Embree nodded and said, “Computer, have you analyzed the data?”
“I have, Admiral and your suspicions of a more advanced Tronan Warship model has been confirmed. It poses a threat to the fleet.”
“Tell me what you’ve determined?”
“The new Warship has scanner directed blasters and has at least one third more range than the older model. It can take out anything approaching it and that includes our ships and missiles.”
Embree’s eyes narrowed and he looked at Randy, “I’ll look at the data later. How many of these new ships did you find?”
“The clear majority of the ships in the Tronan Fleets are the old model, Sir. Less than ten-percent are the newer model,” Randy answered.
Embree nodded and the Computer announced, “They have also found a highly-advanced civilization that is more dangerous than the Tronan, Admiral.”
Embree’s eyes narrowed and Tommy said, “The Tronan have warships numbering more than a hundred-thousand keeping it contained to their planet, Sir. Its weapon technology if far beyond anything the Tronan or we currently possess.”
Embree pressed a button on his console and said, “Lt. Chandler, when will the next scout unit be arriving?”
“They’re due here in two days, Sir.”
Embree nodded and looked at Randy, “I want you to take your unit along with this information and report directly to the Leadership Team immediately.” He turned to Shelly and said, “Get the fleet ready to move out; we’re leaving.” Shelly’s eyes narrowed and Embree said, “Our ships cannot stand up to this new Tronan Warship and we will not be able to stop them here.”
“What are you going to do?” Shelly asked.
“I’m going to leave one of our warships behind to provision the new scouts over an extended period and I’m ordering the scouts to move into Tronan Territory to give us an advanced warning of their invasion.”
“You don’t think the Stealth Probes can do that?”
“There is a risk that one of the probes might accidently be discovered. That’s why we’ve only placed them outside the edge of Tronan Space. It’s clear the Tronan cannot detect this new scout vessel and we can send them much further on the Death Filament than we’ve sent the probes. I’m ordering the probes to be collected and the Scouts will now be our early warning system,” Embree answered. “They’ll give us additional notice if the Tronan launch an invasion.”
Embree looked at Randy, “Get this information back and make yourselves available for any questions. Notify the Leadership Team that I will be moving my fleet back in three days after I’ve collected all of the Stealth Probes.”
Randy stood up and saluted, “Yes, Sir.” Embree returned their salute. The six scouts exited the conference room.
“What are you thinking, Em?” Shelly asked.
“My ships were built by the Insectoids. They’re not coated in Bellingham metal and those new Tronan Blasters have a range capable of hitting my missiles a long way out from their fleets.”
“But only ten-percent of their ships are the new warships.”
“That doesn’t guarantee that they’ll only be ten-percent of the ships they use to invade. I can’t run that risk. I need to get the Insectoids working on a missile that can be effective against this new ship before I commit my fleet into combat against them.”
Shelly started shaking her head, “If they invade with a huge number of warships, our fleet will be one of those used to confront them.”
“I know but the Bellingham coated ships will be there to keep these new warships distracted. We don’t have them out here and I’m not taking that kind of risk without them.” Shelly stared at Embree and he shrugged, “We were sent here to give an early warning. Confronting the Tronan was only to be done if we could win the fight. It’s clear that we won’t be able to do that.”
Shelly nodded, “You’re right. You’re making the best decision.”
“I need you to select the ship we’re leaving behind and have enough stores transferred to it to sustain the three new scouts and that ship for at least two years.”
“We aren’t going to relieve them?”
“Probably, but I’m assuming nothing. Choose a good captain, Shelly.” Shelly nodded and left the conference room.
Embree looked up, “Computer, show me the recording of this new Tronan Warship.” The main wall monitor activated and Embree sat back in his chair. After twenty-minutes, he knew his decision to leave was the right one.
• • •
The three scouts left Heaven’s Gate and entered the Death Filament. Randy heard over his wall-speaker, “Sir, do we have enough stores to make it back?”
“We were given six months before we left for Tronan Territory, Tommy. We were gone less than a week.”
“I know, but it’s a four-month trip back to friendly space.”
“We’ll be in range of the outer picket-line in two months and I’m going to contact Gregor and see if he’ll come and activate the short-cut filament.”
“Do you think he’ll do that, Sir?”
“I’ll let him know that Gloria has Tronan Armor and I’m pretty certain he’ll jump at the opportunity to collect it as quickly as possible. That will cut about six-weeks off our travel time,” Randy answered. He thought a moment and asked, “Gloria, did you have to dump some of your stores to bring the Tronan Armor on board?”
“No, Sir. We have it stacked around our chairs on the bridge. We should be fine.”
“I want you and Tommy to send me the data you collected and I’ll send you my data concurrently. Let’s study it for a couple of weeks and plan to discuss it.”
Tommy announced, “I’m sending it in a squeal-burst now.” Randy smiled; Tommy anticipated him wanting it. He would make a great-unit commander except for his big mouth. Maybe he had learned from his mistakes.
Randy looked at Emily, “Send our data to them.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Once you have their transmissions, I want to see that planet Tommy found.”
“So do I, Sir.”
Randy sat back and ten minutes later, he saw the giant Tronan Gathering around a desolate planet. He watched the recording to completion and then said, “Play it again.” The recording started and Randy said, “Computer, tell me what you see.”
“The first thing is that planet is producing a large positron signature that appears to be emanating from below the planet’s surface.”
“Conclusions?” Randy asked the computer.
“Their source of power is far beyond our current level of technology. The beam hitting that Tronan Warship that launched the nuclear missiles at the planet went through the planet’s atmosphere and hit the Tronan Ship with ten times more power than our blasters can produce in open space. Tommy is right, their technology is far more advanced than ours.”
“Do you see anything else?”
“They don’t use scanners.”
“What?”
“No scanner beams were detected coming from the planet.”
“How did they detect that ship and the missiles it launched?”
There was a pause and the Computer answered, “They must be using highly sophisticated optical systems.”
Emily asked, “Is it possible their scanners are on a frequency we can’t detect?”
“Not likely,” the Computer replied. In order for a scanner to function, the beams must be reflected back to the source. Extremely high frequencies don’t reflect like lower frequencies; they would be very inefficient.”
Randy nodded, “That explains why the Tronan Fleets are at the range they’re holding. They’re far enough out to foil optical systems.”
“That’s a question our scientists will have to answer. It does appear they have sensors on the surface to track the Tronan Fleets if they move too close. And those blaster-cannons don’t seem to be affected in their operation by having to emerge out of the planet’s surface.”
“There’s another thing to consider, Captain.”
“What is that, Computer.”
“Lt. Cranton detected heavy debris in the systems outer edges. It appears the Tronan lost fifty-thousand warships in the past. At some time in the past, that planet had a fleet to defend it.”
Randy looked at Emily and saw her concern. He smiled and said, “Well, it appears they don’t have one now and that’s why the Tronan are there with their fleets. Did Tommy detect any debris of different ships from the Tronan?”
“No, he did not.”
Emily took a deep breath and blew it out slowly as she said, “We have to go back and make sure about that.”
Randy nodded and said, “Play it again.”
After the recording played four more times, the computer said, “Sir, I’ve noticed something else in the data.”
“What is that?” Randy asked.
“Those nuclear missiles had radioactive material in their warheads. When the planet’s beams hit them, it vaporized the missiles and there was no trace of radioactivity in the gas cloud.”
“How is that possible?” Emily asked.
“I have no idea,” the Computer answered.
Randy’s eyes narrowed, “Anti-matter would cancel it out.” The Computer was silent and Randy asked, “Wouldn’t it, Computer?”
“I’m not really sure. Our sensors should detect anti-matter and none was detected. This is another issue for the scientists.”
“Play the recordings we made of the new Tronan Warship.” The images on the wall monitor changed and Randy sat back.
• • •
Two weeks later, the three crews shared their findings and they were surprised that they all agreed on their conclusions. Pat added something that surprised them.
“I think I might have an answer as to how the radioactive materials in those missiles were neutralized.”
Randy looked at the wall monitor showing the five scouts and said, “Do tell.”
“If the beam being fired by that planet was composed of extremely high energy positrons, it could have split the radioactive elements’ nuclei and sent the energy out into space in the beams.”
Randy shook his head, “I’m not sure I understand you.”
“Sir, radioactivity comes when an element has too many positrons or neutrons in the nucleus. The element sheds a positron, beta particle, or alpha particle to change into a stable element. If the beam was composed of highly concentrated positrons, it would have split the nucleus and carried the particles out into space on the beam. The beam would be much more powerful but would eventually play out.”
Emily shook her head, “Pat, that beam would have to be so tightly packed with positrons that it would be… I just don’t believe that’s possible.”
Randy looked up, “Computer, analyze one of those nuclear missiles being hit and see if the beam increased in power after it struck.”
“It increased to double after it hit the missile.”
Randy tipped an imaginary hat, “Pat, it appears you’re right.”
“But why wasn’t there a nuclear explosion with that much energy being released?” Emily asked.
“The energy was absorbed by the beam and sent away from the planet at the speed of light. It’s like throwing a stick of dynamite into a hurricane. It would be sent blowing away in the wind scattering the blast. That beam collected all the loose protons, neutrons, and electrons and blew them away from the planet.” Pat shrugged, “I could be wrong about this but it’s the only thing I can think of that would fit the data.”
Emily began entering data into her console and everyone watched her on their monitors. After a few minutes, Emily looked up, “What you’re suggesting is possible but the power of a beam to make that happen is…unimaginable.”
Randy said, “Computer, include our conversation in the data-block.”
“Done.”
Roger said, “That would explain the Tronan Warship being blasted into vapor. Computer, can you slow the recording of the destruction of that Tronan Warship that launched the missiles and see if the beam stopped or continued through it.”
A seventh image appeared on the wall monitor and they all saw the beam moving at high speed toward the Tronan Ship, hit it, and continue into open space. “That’s as slow as I can make it. We didn’t see it continue due to the massive blast created by the ship’s destruction.”
“What’s the projected range of that beam, Computer?” Tommy asked.
“If they had a way of detecting those Tronan Warships other than optics, they could hit them from the planet at their current positions.”
Gloria shook her head, “Those ships are more than ten-thousand miles out from the planet!”
“Even so,” the Computer replied.
Randy looked at the monitor, “Is anyone feeling less fear of the Tronan at the moment like I am?”
“This planet frightens me more,” Gloria answered. “God help us if they manage to get off that planet.”
Tommy shrugged, “Maybe if that happens, we won’t have to deal with the Tronan.”
Gloria’s eyes narrowed, “We could be next in line if this species is aggressive!”
Randy nodded, “That question needs to be answered before we decide what to do next.”
“How are we going to do that, Sir?” Emily asked.
Randy shrugged, “We’ll leave that up to the Leadership Team. We can only offer our opinions and it’s up to them to act on them…or not. Computer…”
“I’ve added it to the data-block.”
Randy smiled, “Good. Settle in, we have a long voyage ahead of us and if any of you think of something else, let me know.”
The images disappeared from the wall monitor and Emily said, “Thank the Creator Tommy didn’t do an active scan of that planet.”
“He’s not that dumb.” Emily lowered her eyes and Randy sighed, “I don’t think he is.”
Emily said, “Harrumph,” and turned to her console.
• • •
Tommy sat in his chair and after a long moment looked at Roger, “Thank you for stopping me from making an active scan.”
“That’s what I’m here for, Tommy.” Tommy nodded, reclined his chair, and closed his eyes.
Chapter Seven
“Sir, we’re in range of the Picket Fleet.”
Randy sat up straight and rubbed his eyes, “Emily, connect me with the Admiral’s Executive Officer.”
Emily pressed buttons on her console and after speaking to someone she looked at Randy and nodded. Randy saw the Commodore appear on his console and he smiled, “Sir, I’m hoping that you can connect me with Gregor McGregor.”
“Captain, is there a reason for wanting to speak with him?”
“I’m returning with important information from Tronan Territory and I want to ask him to activate the Short-cut Filament.”
The Commodore nodded and spoke to someone off the monitor. A minute later, Gregor appeared on Randy’s console, “I understand you want to speak with me.”
“I do, Sir. I’m bringing important information my unit has collected in Tronan Territory and I hope you’ll activate the Short-cut Filament to expedited my getting back as quickly as possible.” Gregor stared at Randy and it was clear he was reluctant to do it. Randy quickly said before he could answer, “I also have some items we’ve collected that I’m certain you’ll want to take into your position.”
Gregor’s eyes widened, “What is that, Captain?”
“We’ve collected five complete suits of Tronan Armor along with their hand-blasters.”
“
WHAT?”
“We collected them from a planet they invaded in the past, Sir.”
“I’ll activate the Short-cut and I’ll be taking four or those suits of armor. You should keep one to deliver to our Leaders.”
“Yes, Sir. I’m changing course now and should be there in a week.”
Gregor smiled, “I think you knew I’d jump at this opportunity, didn’t you?”
“I know if I were in your shoes, I’d want that armor as quickly as possible.”
“See you in a week, Captain,” Gregor replied and Randy’s monitor went dark.
Randy pressed a button and said to the other two scouts, “We’re changing course to the Short-cut Filament. Gregor is going to meet us there and he wants you to transfer four of the Tronan Armor suits to his vessel, Gloria.”
“Well, that is worth the trade. It’s save us six-weeks travel time, Sir,” Gloria replied.
Randy smiled, “I agree. You should move the armor to be transferred to his ship.” Gloria nodded at the monitor Randy said, “I also want you to download everything we’ve collected and give it to Gregor when you transfer the armor.”
“Yes, Sir,” Gloria replied and the monitor went dark.
Emily looked at Randy, “Are you sure about that?”
“He’s on the Leadership Team and he shouldn’t be in the dark on what we’ve found.”
“Yes, Sir.”
• • •
The week passed quickly and Emily looked up from her panel and said, “There is a Bellingham coated ship holding position at the Short-cut’s location.”
Sam suddenly saw Gregor appear on his console’s monitor, “You’re right on time. I want to transfer the armor before we activate the filament.”
“Yes, Sir. I also want to give you a data-block with all the information we’ve gathered.”
Gregor smiled, “That would be good, Captain.” Gregor paused and said, “Do you know why I’m reluctant to activate this filament?”
“No, Sir. I don’t.”
“Filaments are kept in a delicate balance and if we remove too many, it could lead to the failure of the filaments in this section of space. We’ve removed the one at Bellingham and I don’t want to run a risk of filament failure. Once we make this transfer, I’ll activate the filament and all of us will move on it at maximum speed. I’ll be removing it as quickly as possible once we all arrive at the intersection.”