The Death Filament: Some Places Should Be Avoided

by Saxon Andrew

  “You mentioned something about orders.”

  The Guyton pulled a data-cube out of his pouch and handed it to Gloria, who inserted it into her console. Tej thought to Gloria, “We have a few months before we have to act so, I’m going to leave this data cube with you and you can view it at your leisure. If you need to discuss it with your or Commodore Cranton’s unit, send me a thought and I’ll connect all of us telepathically. We should go back to our ship and disconnect now. Our ships tied together makes a larger signal than we would alone.”

  Gloria nodded, “Thank you for the supplies and you’re right. You should move away.”

  The Guyton and his First Officer turned and rushed across the small bridge. Gloria watched them close the port behind them and then felt a bump as the other scout disconnected and moved away. Pat looked at Gloria, “Do you want to watch it now?”

  “No. Both of us need to build up our strength and get our heads clear before we attempt that. I think we’ll do that in a few days.” Pat nodded and closed her eyes. Gloria watched her and knew she had saved their lives. She sighed and wondered how many scouts had been sent out. She took a long drink of water and put some food in her mouth. She would never complain about the rations again. She kept the ship on course and listened to the Tronan conversations until Pat awoke and took over the control of the scout. Gloria closed her eyes and was instantly asleep. A few minutes later, Pat closed her eyes again.

  The computer watched them and knew they should have died. It had been piloting the scout for the last four weeks while they passed in and out of consciousness. It was going to take longer than a few days for them to recover. It looked at what was in the data-cube and knew that they had plenty of time before they would be called on to carry out their mission. It continued to pilot the ship and record the Tronan conversations when both fell asleep. It shut off the volume to allow them to rest and waited for them to recover.

  • • •

  Gloria opened her eyes and saw Pat bent over touching the floor with her hands. She straightened up and reached for the ceiling. Gloria chuckled, “Back to being the exercise queen?”

  Pat lowered her arms and smiled, “You should try it. It gets the blood flowing.” Gloria stood up and reached for the floor. She had to grab her chair to keep from falling. “Not so fast! Take it slow or vertigo will drop you like a bad habit.”

  Gloria nodded and straightened up; she slowly reached for the floor and touched it with her finger tips. She slowly straightened and reached for the ceiling. She repeated the move and, after a few minutes, was able to increase her speed. She finally sat down and huffed, “You’re right. My head is clearer.” She looked up and smiled, “Computer, how long have we been in and out?”

  “Eight days.”

  “WHAT?”

  Suddenly she heard Tej’s thought, “I’ve been monitoring you and you needed that time.”

  Gloria sighed heavily and said, “How many scouts came with you?”

  “Twenty total. Ten are assigned to you and the others are with Commodore Cranton.”

  “Did you say Commodore Cranton?”

  “I did and he is the senor officer on this mission.”

  “Why twenty scouts?”

  “Now is when you should view the contents of the data-cube.”

  Gloria nodded and looked at Pat, “Are you ready?”

  “I think so. I’m not back to full strength but my head is clear.”

  Gloria looked up and said, “Computer, play the contents of the cube on the front monitor.”

  Gloria turned her chair around and saw Randy appear on the monitor, “If you’re seeing this then the scouts I sent arrived in time. I really pray you’re viewing this but have no way of knowing if you are. I’ve sent an additional scout in the event you were unable…to survive.

  Gloria and Pat listened to Randy go over the mission they were tasked to perform and then viewed the intelligence on the Tronan Warship. Tommy had included a personal message for them at the end.

  “Tej just told me that you’re still alive and I thank God for that. I’m so sorry that I can’t stop and assist you but I’m taking my unit to target the warships we’ve been assigned to take out at the end of the Tronan Communication Line. One thing that Admiral Hummel didn’t say in his recording is that if all else fails, then we’re going to have to use our scouts to crash into the Tronan Warships we’re assigned to take out. We cannot allow any of them to survive! I do believe Fleet is right that our blasters will penetrate the hulls covering the Tronan nuclear missiles on the bottom of their hulls but things can go wrong. The civilizations in our sector are depending on us to do all we can to save them. I know you and Pat will do what has to be done. I’ve missed you a lot and hope to see you once this mission is over. Good-luck and you are in my prayers.”

  Gloria stared at the monitor and Pat said, “He sounds different.” Gloria nodded. “We’re going to have to assign our scouts and send them out to their targets.”

  “I know. The ten warships we’re going to attack are separated by some hundred-million-light years. But we won’t do that until the Tronan Fleets arrive at the filament that leads directly to Heaven’s intersection.”

  “Why wait until then?” Pat asked.

  “Because we are currently between the two Tronan Groups and out of detection range of both. This is a good place to stay until then.” Gloria paused and thought, “Tej, do you agree with my assessment.”

  “Yes, Commodore, I do.”

  “Commodore?”

  “You and your First Officer have been promoted as well. Your first officer is now a Captain. Both of you out-rank all of us and you are second-in-command.”

  Gloria shrugged and said, “Connect all the crews telepathically and let’s discuss our plan.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Pat, send a squeal burst to the scouts in front of the Tronan Fleets and let them know we’ve survived and will implement our mission.”

  Pat smiled and sent the message.

  • • •

  Randy watched the scouts sneaking up on the Romania Warships and saw his communicator blink. He pressed a button on his panel and saw Sam. “Admiral Hummel. I thought you might like to know that Commodore Hashem has sent a message and let us know she is implementing the plans you sent for her mission.”

  Randy’s face brightened and he smiled from ear-to-ear, “Thank you, Sir! That is great news.”

  Sam disappeared from the monitor and he went back to Emily’s chair, lifted her in his arms and spun her around, “Gloria and Pat are alive! They made it!!”

  Emily squealed and wrapped her arms around Randy’s neck as he spun her around. He finally lowered her to the floor but she kept her arms around his neck. He looked at her with his head tilted and she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. She broke the kiss and went to her chair. Randy stared at her and said, “What was that about?”

  “Are you complaining?”

  “Welllll…no; not really.”

  “Then go back to your chair and go to work.” Randy laughed and went back to his chair.

  • • •

  Sam looked up and heard Jek say, “Sir, I have Gregor McGregor requesting to speak with you.”

  Sam nodded and Gregor appeared on his console’s monitor, “Hello, Gregor. What’s up?”

  “I’ve been examining the scans our scouts have taken of the Tronan Fleets moving our way. I’ve seen something that bothers me.”

  “What is that?”

  “I want you to pull up the original scan that showed them moving through the intersection as they began their voyage here.”

  Sam looked at his Scanning Officer and saw Kelly pressing buttons on her console. A few moments later, an image with thousands of white blips appeared on the main wall monitor. “Thanks, Lydia.” He looked at Gregor, I have it on my monitor, Gregor.”

  “I want you to focus in on the third-fleet located in the middle of them.”
Sam looked up at the monitor and saw Kelly was moving the image in closer to the middle Tronan Fleet.

  “I’m looking at it. What interests you about this.”

  “I want you to now focus in on the middle of that fleet’s formation and tell me what you see.” Sam saw the image grow larger until the center of the five-thousand ship formation filled the monitor’s screen. He stared at it and then he saw it. His eyes went wide and Gregor said, “Do you see it?” Sam fell back in his chair and Gregor’s eyebrows lowered, “Unless I’m mistaken, that looks like there are three Troop Transports in the center of that fleet.”

  Sam shook his head. It was clear that three of the white blips were twice as large as those surrounding them. “We’ve missed this.”

  “Yes, we have,” Gregor agreed. “And there is a real possibility that the vision Elena had of Bandasar being invaded just might be taking place during this invasion and not the next one. The Tronan could dispatch those three Transports along with an escort to attack Bandasar, while he is at Heaven’s intersection.” Sam could only shake his head. Gregor waited for him to speak but he remained silent. “Sam, I have to act like this is a real possibility and I’ve had Kaylee go to Bandasar and meet with their government to get their permission for us to land our warriors on the planet to meet the Tronan Forces if they invade. They’re also going to start working on evacuation plans in their largest cities.” Sam remained silent and Gregor said sharply, “SAM!”

  Sam shook his head and looked at Gregor on his monitor, “I think you’re right.” Sam looked at Jek and he nodded.

  “Sam, I’ve contacted Gem about using the Dojuit Colony Ship to take my warriors to Bandasar but he tells me that you’ve already moved it to Heaven’s Planetary System. I need that ship to transport my warriors.”

  “It’s too late to use it, Gregor?”

  “Why?! We don’t have any other ships large enough to move my ground forces.”

  “Because it’s been modified and all of its cargo area has been loaded with electronic systems. It would take longer than four months to remove them and, even if we could, that ship is critical to my plan.”

  “Sam, I need to move thirty-thousand warriors and all of their ordinance from Bellingham and the Dragon’s Planet to Bandasar before the Tronan Fleets arrive. None of our warships are large enough to make that happen in time.”

  “Gregor, if they invade Bandasar, we cannot attack them before the Tronan Fleets enter Heaven’s System. If they invade Bandasar like you believe, the Fleet Director won’t enter Heaven until he receives news that the invasion is successful.”

  Gregor blew out a breath and said, “Then we’ll just have to remain hidden until that happens, if they do invade. However, I need to get my warriors on the plant before the Tronan Fleets arrive. Their probes will see us if we wait until then. We do not have armored drop ships to send them in after the Tronan land on the planet.”

  Sam collected his thoughts, “What about the Dragon Transports?”

  “There’s not nearly enough of them to move that many warriors along with their arms in time. Besides, they are built around moving the Dragons. We might get my warriors there but none of their equipment.”

  Sam tried to think and then Gregor said, “I’ll get back to you.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to see if I can find another means of getting my forces to Bandasar.”

  “Where?”

  Gregor sighed, “The last place I ever thought I’d go.”

  • • •

  The monitor darkened and Sam shook his head and knew the plan would have to be changed. He started to press Leo and Gem’s frequencies but hesitated. He pressed another button instead and Angel appeared on his monitor. He saw her expression and knew his worst fear was realized. Angel said, “She’s been called up, Sam.” Sam’s eyes closed and his chin fell to his chest.”

  • • •

  Daniel rushed to the bridge and his Second-in-Command said, “Gregor is asking to speak with you. He’s on your console.”

  Daniel went to his chair and pressed the flashing button on his panel, “Yes, Sir. I’m sorry about the delay; I was in the landing bay.”

  “Forget it. What happened to the Earth Transports after Earth’s Fleet was forced to flee?”

  Daniel’s eyes narrowed and he said, “I really don’t know, Sir.”

  Isaac spoke up, “Sir, I heard in the past that they went to a commercial planet and hired themselves out as commercial haulers.”

  Gregor said, “I heard that. What company did they sign on with?”

  Daniel looked at Isaac and he shrugged, “I think it was a large company in the Virgo Cluster but I don’t know the name.”

  Gregor looked at Daniel, “I need you to go and see if you can find some of those ships and get them back here as quickly as possible.”

  “What’s going on, Sir?”

  “The Tronan may be invading a heavily populated planet when they arrive and I have to get my warriors there before they arrive. We don’t have any vessels large enough that can make it happen.” Daniel’s eyes widened and Gregor said, “Commodore, I’m depending on you to find them and get them here in time to move my forces!”

  Daniel nodded, “Yes, Sir. We’ll leave immediately.”

  The monitor went dark and Daniel looked at Isaac, “Get the ship on the way.”

  Isaac shook his head, “Sir, there are more than two-thousand galaxies in the Virgo Cluster.

  “If it’s a large commercial company, they’ll have freighters trading in most of them. We’ll worry about it after we arrive,” Daniel responded. He looked at his pilot, “Tony, get the ship moving and go to maximum speed.” Daniel picked up his communicator, “Hamish, you are in command until I get back.”

  “Where are you going, Sir?”

  Daniel smiled, “Back to our home turf. Make sure the fleet is ready!”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Daniel smiled, it had been years since he had gone back to the Virgo Cluster. He hoped he would be able to find the transports.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Daniel knew that finding the transports would be like finding a single needle in six haystacks. But he came up with an idea. He pressed a frequency on his panel and, after a few moments, a face appeared, “Daniel! How you doing? Long time no see.”

  “I’ve got a problem, John, and I need your help.”

  John Blakely’s eyes narrowed, “You sound serious. What’s going on?”

  “Gregor needs me to find the Earth Transports that were part of the fleet when they fled Earth. I understand that they hired out as freighters to a large commercial company in the Virgo Cluster but the area I’ll have to search is massive. Can you help me?”

  John looked over his shoulder and said, “Are any of our vessels escorting ships in the Virgo Cluster?” John waited and then turned back to Daniel, “I have about seven-hundred of our ships working in that cluster. Give me some time to contact them and I’ll let you know what I come up with.”

  “Thanks, John. We need to hurry.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “Do you remember the closest populated planet to Heaven?”

  “I believe I do. It was Banshee, or something like that.”

  “Bandasar. It may be invaded by the Tronan in four weeks and we need those ships to transport our forces to defend the planet.”

  John shook his head, “Those ships have been out of the business of war for years. They may not choose to go with you.”

  “I’ll worry about that after I find them, John. I been asked to make the effort.”

  “I’ll do what I can. How is Leo and Desiree doing?”

  Daniel smiled, “Leo’s hair is down to his waist and he’s itching to get into the fight.”

  John smiled, “That’s the Leo I know. There are days I wish I had stayed.” He paused and said, “But today isn’t one of them. I have four children now a
nd this is my place.”

  “Congratulations and thanks for your assistance.”

  • • •

  Daniel sat back in his chair and waited. He moved the ship to the edge of communication range with Fellowship and waited. A week passed and there was no word from John. Daniel was fidgeting in his command chair and looked at his bridge crew and sighed, “We need to go and start searching.”

  Isaac shook his head, “Sir, if we leave now, we’ll be out of communication range with Fellowship. John won’t be able to contact us.”

  Daniel sighed heavily and said, “I’ll give him another day. We’re shoving off in twenty-four hours.” Daniel stood up and went to his quarters to rest. He had not had much sleep and his fatigue was getting the best of him. At 3AM ship’s time, Gary came to his cabin and woke him, “I have Captain Blakely on the com.”

  Daniel shook his head and stumbled out of his quarters and ran to the bridge. He looked at his monitor and said, “John! Please tell me you have something!”

  “I don’t have much, Daniel. One of my vessel’s commander reported that he handles transactions with a human that directs the shipping for one of the larger commercial companies in Virgo. He appears to be about your age so he may have come from Earth’s Fleet.”

  “Where is he located?”

  “He’s in the galaxy designated M-82 on your maps. I’ll send you the coordinates of his planet along with his contact frequency.” John shook his head, “I’m sorry I couldn’t find out more but that’s the only human my ships have run across.”

  “Thanks anyway. It’s at least a place to start.”

  “Good-luck and tell Leo and Gem to come and visit.”

  “This war is going to take a few years to either win or lose, John, but I’ll pass the message to them.” John smiled and the monitor went dark. Daniel looked at his pilot, “Do you have the coordinates?” The Pilot nodded as he entered them in the stardrive. The ship left normal space and entered the filament. They would arrive the next day around mid-morning. Daniel went back to his quarters and tried to slow his thoughts. He finally fell asleep.