The Death Filament: Some Places Should Be Avoided

by Saxon Andrew

• • •

  Isaac woke him and said, “We’ve arrived at the planet.”

  Daniel jumped out of bed and felt better than he had in five days. He went to the bridge and looked at Isaac, “I need you to look up the list of transports in our databanks and start reading off the names of their commanders.”

  Isaac pressed some buttons on his console and began; “Jeremy Appelt, Hasam Allah, Ken Anderson…”

  Daniel shook his head after each name until Isaac said, “Glenda Allen.”

  “Stop. What’s the name of the transport she commanded?”

  Isaac stared at his panel and said, “She commanded the Key West.”

  “Connect me with the frequency John gave us.” Daniel looked at his monitor and saw an Alien appear on his monitor. His stomach turned and he asked Isaac, “Are you sure this is the right frequency?” Isaac nodded. Daniel looked at the Alien and said, “I’m looking…”

  The Alien quickly interrupted him, “Hold on! This is not my desk.” The Alien looked over his shoulder and said, “You have a contact!”

  The Alien stood up and walked away. A moment later, a man sat down in the chair and looked at Daniel. His eyes went wide and he said, “Who are you?”

  “I’m looking to find a friend and I was directed to contact you to see if you would know how to contact her,” Daniel answered.

  The man stared at Daniel and said, “You’re speaking in English.”

  “I wanted to see if you would understand it,” Daniel replied.

  “Who is this friend?”

  “Glenda Allen. She used to command the Key West.”

  “What do you want with her?”

  Daniel’s hopes went up, the man did not say he didn’t know her. “She and I once had a thing and I’m hoping I can find her again.”

  The man stared at Daniel and said, “Are you planning to get her to leave her contract with my company?”

  The man stared directly into Daniels eyes and Daniel almost lied to him. But this was a fellow warrior from Earth. Knowing English confirmed it. He couldn’t bring himself to deceive him, “I am?”

  “Why?”

  “I need her ship to help against an invading aggressive civilization across this sector.”

  “Who are you working for?”

  Daniel stared at him for a long moment and said, “I’m fighting with the beings that killed our former leaders on Earth.”

  The man’s eyes widened and he shook his head, “Why should I help you?! They are the reason we were forced to flee Earth?”

  “Because they are fighting to protect life, not to destroy it, like we once did.”

  The man stared at Daniel and saw something in his eyes, “You’re a warrior again.”

  “I am and more than a thousand of our former warships are fighting with me.”

  The man looked down and sighed. He then said, “I’ll give you her frequency on one condition.”

  “What is that?” Daniel asked.

  “That if she goes with you, you take me and nine others with you.” Daniel stared at the man and he said, “Don’t worry. They don’t speak English here.”

  “Do you think your masters will agree to let you go?”

  The man smiled, “Of course not.”

  Daniel stared at him and said, “Give me her frequency and if she agrees to leave with me, I’ll send a shuttle down to pick you and your friends up.”

  The man nodded, “Tell her that George gave you her frequency.”

  Daniel’s eyes narrowed and he stared at the man on his monitor. After moment, he said, “Admiral, is that you?”

  The man smiled, “Yes, it’s been years since I’ve been called that. I should warn you that your ship might be attacked if you attempt to take us.”

  Daniel smiled, “Sir, my blasters and force field are operational. I don’t think that will be a problem.

  “Are you serious!?”

  “I am, Admiral. I’ll contact Glenda and then contact you. Where do I need to go to pick you up?”

  “We’re in the largest city on the planet in the tallest building, which is in the center of the city.”

  Daniel looked over his shoulder, “Do you have a line on this frequency?”

  Isaac nodded, “We’re moving the ship in orbit above that city now.”

  George smiled, “I’m sending you her frequency. She’s completing the delivering of a large cargo across the galaxy.”

  Daniel nodded and entered the frequency in his panel.

  • • •

  “Sir, I have a call coming in asking for you personally.”

  “Who is it?”

  “I have no idea and the monitor is black. No video is being transmitted.”

  Glenda left the landing bay after having the delivery order signed and left for the bridge. She would need to start on-loading the next cargo shortly. She arrived at the bridge five-minutes later and pressed the flashing light on her panel. “This is Commander Allen.”

  Her eyes went wide when she heard in English, “Are you where you can speak freely?”

  “Who is this?”

  “Can you speak freely!?”

  “Yes.”

  Suddenly the monitor on her panel came on and she heard, “It’s been a long-time Glenda.” Glenda’s mouth fell open and Daniel said, “I need your help.”

  “How did you find me?! And where have you been?!”

  “George gave me your frequency.”

  Glenda stared at Daniel and said, “Why are you here now after all these years?”

  “I’ve been fighting in a war. My crew and I nearly lost our will to live but we were given an opportunity to join a civilization and fight for its survival. Now the fight is getting dangerous and we need your ship to help us protect an innocent planet that is going to be invaded by an aggressive civilization that kills all intelligent life on the planets they conquer. We need your ship to transport our warriors to defend it.”

  “What civilization did you join?”

  Daniel stared at her and finally said, “Bellingham.”

  Glenda’s eyes narrowed and she sneered, “I’d rather die than work with them! Do you not remember how many of our friends died there?”

  Daniel stared at her and said, “Tell me what we were going there to do, Glenda.” Glenda stared at him with her eyes barely more than slits. “We were going to take their children and kill the others. Is that what a true warrior does?” Glenda continued to glare at him and Daniel said, “I guess your heart hasn’t had enough time to see what we were. I’m sorry for taking your time.”

  Glenda quickly said, “WAIT!” Daniel moved his finger off the disconnect button and she said, “I know you, Daniel. How could you have chosen to fight for them?”

  Daniel sighed, “Because when we invaded Bellingham, all they did was defend themselves against us. They offered to accept me and my crew, along with all the ships that joined me, as citizens and graciously provided me a new life and home to fight for. I’ve learned that the humans on Bellingham are pure of heart and abhor the killing of innocent beings. You have to know that our former leaders placed little value on life.”

  “How many of our ships are fighting for them?”

  “There were about fourteen-hundred but three hundred were lost in the last battle against that aggressive civilization.”

  Glenda shook her head and sighed, “Tell me where to meet you.”

  Daniel lowered his eyes, “Are you sure about this, Glenda?”

  “I hate my life. I can see the fires that were once burning in your eyes have been rekindled. If George gave you my frequency, then I have to believe the two of you are seeing things I don’t.”

  “Do you still have the coordinates of Bellingham in your stardrive?”

  “I do. I’ve thought about erasing them so many times but couldn’t bring myself to do it. I guess I kept them to remind me of the time when we were all together. I’ve missed you, Daniel.”<
br />
  Daniel smiled, “Glenda, do you know the whereabouts of other Transports that might be willing to assist us?”

  “I’ll see, Daniel. However, I can make no promises.”

  “I’m going to send a shuttle down to pick up George and the other humans with him.”

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Daniel. The building they’re in is heavily armed.”

  “Glenda, my blasters and force field are operational again. I suspect we’ll be ok.”

  Glenda’s eyes went wide and she said, “Can you repair the arms on this ship?”

  “I can’t but I know someone who can and will.”

  “Be careful. I don’t want George to die. He’s suffered more than any of us.”

  “I’ll take care of him, Glenda. I’ll see you at Bellingham’s intersection.”

  Daniel ended the contact and pressed the other frequency, “How do you want to do this, Admiral?”

  “I’ve been talking with the others and all of us are going to leave our offices and go to the front of the building together.”

  “How long will it take you to get out?”

  “About five minutes.”

  “Wait fifteen minutes and then leave. My shuttle will arrive in twenty minutes just outside the front door. Get in it quickly!”

  George nodded, “Fifteen minutes it is.”

  • • •

  Daniel looked at Isaac, “You have command of the ship.”

  “Sir, you are the overall commander of our fleet. I’ve sent Scott to take the shuttle and he’s currently holding position outside the landing bay.” Daniel stared at Isaac and he said, “You know I’m right about this.”

  “Ok, we’ll do it your way. However, I want the ship to follow the shuttle down to the planet and move over the top of it with an active force field a moment after it lands. Glenda says that building is armed with blasters.”

  Isaac stared at him and Tony said from his console, “OUTSTANDING! This is what a pilot lives for.”

  Daniel laughed and saw the shuttle blast away and head toward the planet’s surface. Two minutes later, the warship ignited its boosters and followed it down toward the planet’s surface at top speed.

  • • •

  The shuttle arrived and the sonic boom that accompanied it shook the city. It landed just outside the front doors of the skyscraper and Scott saw ten humans running out of the front entrance as he opened the entry port. The ten rushed into the shuttle just as the Rocky Peak came flashing in and hovered above it. Twenty brilliant blaster beams fired from the top of the giant building and hit the warship’s force field. Scott flew the shuttle into the warship’s landing bay and it flashed away clawing for orbit. It arrived in low orbit as six warships came rushing in firing their blasters at the fleeing vessel.

  Daniel looked at Isaac, “Do you have their communication channel?”

  “It’s on your board, Sir.”

  Daniel lifted his communicator and said just as George and the other humans entered the bridge, “I have no desire to harm anyone but if you don’t break off your attack and move out of my way, I will defend my ship.” The six ships continued to attack while moving in front of the Rocky Peake. Daniel looked at Gena, “Fire a blaster beam over the tops of those ships.”

  George looked at the wall monitor showing the six attacking vessels and saw a brilliant beam flash past each of them. The commanders of the six attackers immediately determined that the power of those beams would disintegrate their ships if they hit. They turned and fled. George looked at Daniel, “In the old days, I would have just destroyed them.”

  Daniel smiled, “It’s a new universe, Admiral.”

  George smiled, “Yes, I suppose it is.”

  Daniel looked at Tony, “Take us home.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  • • •

  The Rocky Peak arrived at Bellingham and, three-hours later, five giant transports arrived. Daniel contacted Glenda and said, “I never expected this many to show up!”

  “It appears I’m not the only one who hates our current life; ten more are on the way. Anything would be better than hauling cargo across the universe. What happens now?”

  “We activate your force fields and blasters. But first I want all of you to have a meeting with the commander of our landing forces. Is your conference room available?”

  Glenda smiled when she saw George standing behind Daniel, “It is.”

  Daniel pressed a button and said, “Sir, I have your transports. I’ve set up a meeting on the Earth Transport Key West for you to discuss what comes next with the Commanders.”

  Gregor smiled and felt the immense stress he was enduring start to dissipate. “I’ll be there shortly along with Sam and Leonidas.” Gregor looked at Kaylee, “It looks like we have our ride.”

  Kaylee hugged him and smiled. War was coming and she looked forward to it. She was also bored with the constant stress and fear of what was coming. At least they could now do something about it.

  • • •

  Three months later, Glenda watched the warriors and heavy weapons being moved off her ship to the surface of Bandasar. She looked at Daniel and said, “Those mobile blasters have Earth markings on them.”

  “They went to Bellingham to take life, Glenda. Now they’re going out to save life. Can you think of a better way to use them?”

  Glenda sighed heavily and then said, “So many died on Bellingham.”

  Daniel nodded, “How many more would have died if the Movement had conquered the sector?” Glenda stared at him and Daniel said, “If they were willing to kidnap all Bellingham’s children and kill the others, what do you think they would have done if a planet didn’t do as they ordered?”

  Glenda lowered her eyes and nodded, “You’re right. I just remember so many dying from radiation poisoning.” She looked at the mobile blasters exiting her transport and nodded, “Perhaps they can be used to redeem what we once were.”

  Daniel put his arm over her shoulder, “That’s how we feel.”

  Glenda looked up into his eyes, “Do not go out and get yourself killed. I’ve just found you again.”

  Daniel looked into her eyes and smiled, “I’ll do what I can.”

  Glenda said coyly, “I would have thought you would have found someone else by now. The women on Bellingham are incredibly beautiful.”

  Daniel smiled, “I’ve been tempted several times…but I just couldn’t do it.”

  “Why not?”

  Daniel stared at the mobile blasters again and said, “I needed someone who shared what happened here so I can heal. You are what I need.”

  Glenda wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Emily watched the two scouts move in on two warships and land on their hulls before they were detected. She knew the scanning officers on the warships were starting to get frustrated but this training was necessary to prepare the scouts. She smiled and leaned back in her chair and knew the Tronan Warships were going to be more than frustrated when the scouts approached them.

  Suddenly, she had a thought and it brought a frown to her face. How were the scouts going to get close to a Tronan Warship once the battle started? She thought about it and said, “Randy.”

  Randy looked away from the wall monitor toward her, “Yes.”

  “Why are we working so hard to train our scouts on being able to approach our warships?”

  “That’s what they’re designed to do.”

  “I know that; but when are they going to be called on to perform?”

  Randy’s head tilted, “I’m not sure what you’re asking, Emily.”

  “We’ve been ordered to get our scouts trained as quickly as possible, right?” Randy nodded. “What do you think will happen when the Tronan Fleets detect our warships coming to meet them?”

  “The old model of their warships will start firing a covering blaster barrage around
their ships and the new model will activate their blasters to fire at anything they detect.”

  “Where do you think the newer model will be in their formations?”

  “Emily, stop with the questions and tell me what you’re trying to say!”

  “Those new Tronan Warships will not be outside the ranks of the older model. They will be inside them and protected by the covering barrages they produce. They’ll be used to attack anything that makes it through their barrages.”

  Randy shrugged, “I think you’re probably right.”

  “So, when are our scouts going to attempt to sneak up on the Tronan Ships? If our main fleet is within their detection range, which is quite a long way out, then they’ll be firing their blasters and our scouts cannot withstand even three of them much less the tens of thousands of blaster beams surrounding the Tronan Fleets.”

  Randy saw it. He sat up straight in his chair, “If our scouts are going to be used to approach the Tronan Fleets, they’ll have to do it before our fleets arrive to confront them. After the Tronan open fire, they’ll be useless.”

  “That’s how I see it. What is Fleet Admiral Oliver planning for us to do in what’s coming.”

  Randy shrugged and thought about it. After a few minutes, he looked at Emily, “He’s using us to take out the Tronan Communication Line.”

  Emily waved a hand, “Get real, Randy! That only involves twenty scouts. He’s having us train all three-thousand in our command.”

  Randy stared at Emily and said, “There’s only one other reason. He’s not going to attack them with our fleets first. He’s going to use us to initiate the initial contact.” Emily nodded. “But that’s suicide!” Randy said forcefully. “They have twenty-five-thousand warships and we only have three thousand scouts.” Randy looked at Emily, “Am I missing something?”

  Emily nodded, “Remember the mapping we did around Heaven. I think the Admiral is going to bait the majority of the Tronan Fleets to go into Heaven’s System to investigate what happened there. If he’s successful in making that happen, it’s almost a certainty that not all their ships will be sent in; some will remain at the intersection recording what’s going on. Especially if they send their transports to invade Bandasar, while that’s happening. I believe it will be those ships left at the intersection that we’ll have to attack.”