The Death Filament: Some Places Should Be Avoided

by Saxon Andrew

  Randy thought about it and after a few minutes started nodding. He looked at Emily and said, “I want new orders delivered to our unit commanders. Starting immediately, all of their training approaches will only be done toward the bottom hulls on the warships they’re sneaking in on.”

  Emily nodded, “That is a good idea. Are you going to ask Admiral Oliver what’s going on?”

  “I won’t have to, Emily. Once he learns we’re only approaching the warships from below, he’ll know we’ve figured it out.”

  “Why hasn’t he told anyone about it?”

  “I suspect the warships in the fleet are going to be outraged if we don’t use them in the coming confrontation; he could face a munity.”

  Emily thought about it and then sighed, “I think you’re right. However, I suspect there will be more than three-thousand Tronan Warships holding position at the intersection. If there are, the fleet will have to move in and take out those we don’t hit. I’ll issue the orders.”

  Randy nodded and wondered if the Tronan were going to leave less than three-thousand warships at the intersection. Time would tell. If it were more than that, his scouts would be in real danger.

  • • •

  “Fleet Director, we have moved to a filament that appears to lead directly to the last reported position of the lost warship and squadron.”

  “How long will it take us to arrive?”

  “Three weeks, Director.”

  The Fleet Director nodded and looked at his Science Director, “How many filaments are there at that intersection.”

  “Thirty, Director.”

  “I want Doggets launched immediately to investigate those filaments. Program them to return seven days before our arrival.”

  “Some of them may not have enough time to investigate the assigned filament.”

  “Order the fleets to go to one-third speed. I don’t want to rush in to that intersection before I find out what’s there. That will give the Doggets enough time to arrive and investigate those filaments. Program them accordingly.”

  The Science Director nodded, “Yes, Fleet Director.

  The Director knew that he would have to contact the Prime Director soon. He secretly hoped the communication line would be broken but barring that, he’d have to have information about what lay ahead.

  • • •

  “Break out to the edge of filament! Break out to the edge!” Med thought to the scouts in his communication line. He had jerked his ship vertical and moved to the extreme edge of the filament leading to Heaven’s intersection. If he moved out of the filament, the Tronan Fleets would blow past him and the communication line would be lost. The scouts had to remain inside the filament. “The Tronan Fleets have slowed and are launching more than fifty-thousand probes. Keep your fins turned in toward the center of the filament and maintain your distance ahead of the Tronan Fleets!”

  Med stared at the wall monitor and saw thousands of white blips blowing past in the center of the forty-mile-wide filament. He held his breath and waited but none of the probes detected his scouts. The last scout in the fleet’s communication line sent out a warning and Sam ordered his fleets to remain away from Heaven’s intersection.

  Leonidas contacted Sam, “How did you know they were going to send out those probes?”

  “That Tronan Leader is frightened. It’s what I’d do if I were in his place. This will prevent us from moving in on him until all of the probes they’ve launched have returned.”

  “That may be too late.”

  Sam looked at Leonidas on his monitor, “The Scout Fleets can go in without being detected.”

  Leo shook his head, “That’s what you’ve been planning all along, isn’t it?”

  “Do you see another way, Leo. I also have some scouts at Bandasar to let us know if they send any vessels there.”

  “What will you do if they do?”

  “Hold off a response until they commit at Heaven.”

  There could be a huge loss of life on Bandasar if that happens.”

  “The losses will be much higher than that if I don’t, Leo.”

  Leo shook his head, “I’m glad this is your decision and not mine to make.”

  Sam took a deep breath, exhaled, and nodded, “I know. I’ve already watched one planet die. I pray I won’t have to watch another. But if we act to soon, we’ll see many more planets die.”

  • • •

  Emily looked at Randy and said, “I’ve just received a squeal-burst message from Fleet Admiral Oliver.”

  “What is it?”

  Emily opened the message and said, “Computer, decipher this message and tell us what it says.”

  The wall speaker began saying, “I think you’ve worked out that I intend to use your scouts to attack any Tronan Ships that are left behind at Heaven’s intersection. I do not want you to jeopardize your command by taking foolish chances but I need you to take out as many of their warships as possible. What I believe will happen is that the Tronan Leader will launch an invasion on Bandasar before he sends his fleets into Heaven’s system. It is absolutely critical that he send those fleets to Heaven and if we have to watch the destruction of Bandasar, then we will. I’m hoping that he will determine the invasion is successful initially and then go ahead and send his fleets in to investigate the Fleets of Insectoid Warships we have waiting for him at Heaven’s Star. I will need you to send a scout with each warship he sends to attack Bandasar and make sure they’re ready to take them out when ordered.”

  Sam paused and said solemnly as he leaned closer to his monitor, “Admiral, it is my opinion that the Tronan Leader will remain at the intersection and surround his vessel with a tight formation of warships. I suspect the only ones you’ll be able to take out will be those in the outer ranks. Do what you can but do not jeopardize your vessels trying to get through their barrages. As soon as one of their ships is hit, the survivors will open fire. Time your attack so you do the maximum damage possible before you escape. I’ll be bringing the fleet in after you initiate your attack. Order your scouts to get out immediately after your attack. My warships won’t be able to detect them and they’ll only be in the way. Good-luck and I know you’ll do an excellent job.”

  Randy looked at Emily and smiled, “I always knew you were brilliant and you were right on in your estimate of what was happening.”

  “Thank you, Admiral.”

  Randy shook his head, “Computer, when the Tronan Fleet arrives, I am going to have my two fleets in normal space below the location of Heaven’s intersection. Are you capable of scanning the Tronan formation that remains at the intersection and assign our ships to a target?”

  “I am if they give me a few minutes to do it. I’ll also need a Guyton to send the targeting data to our ships.”

  Randy thought, “Meg, have you been listening to this?”

  There was a pause and then he heard, “You caught me.”

  “Don’t feel bad, if I was a telepath, I’d be listening in as well. Are you able to quickly send three thousand targeting coordinates?”

  “It will take about fifty-minutes to deliver them.”

  Randy’s eyebrows came down and Emily said, “We’ll have at least that much time before we attack.” Randy’s eyebrows went up and Emily said, “We must give the Tronan Fleets enough time to move deep into Heaven’s System before we attack.”

  “Every moment we delay, beings will be dying on Bandasar, Emily.”

  “Eliminating those fleets is more important than Bandasar, Randy. If they escape out into this sector, a lot more beings will die than those on Bandasar. We’ll have to wait until they move in close to Heaven.”

  “That will take more than two hours.”

  “There is another issue, Randy.”

  “What is that?”

  “How is Meg going to get the targeting data? Our computer is not telepathic.” Randy’s eyes went wide and Emily thought, “Meg, you’re going to h
ave to use your computer to develop the targets.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Meg.”

  “Yes, Admiral.”

  “If those remaining vessels are in a tight formation, do not target any vessels inside it. Target the outer ranks only…that’s an order.”

  “I could target the outer ranks and have a second wave attack the inner rank.”

  “Meg, within a half-second of the first Tronan Warship going up, every one of their warships inside the formation are going to open fire with their blasters. Do you honestly think we could move in and attack in less than a half-second?”

  Meg sighed mentally, “No, that’s not possible. I’ll do as you order.”

  “Good, because you’ll be leaving as soon as you send the targets.”

  “WHAT?”

  “I need you to take a unit of scouts and go after the warships that go to support the invasion of Bandasar. You will take out the warships in orbit and then go into Bandasar’s atmosphere and take out their armored landers.”

  “Why do you need me to go?”

  Emily looked at Randy, “Actually, you could send one of our Senior Commanders. Meg could leave the moment after we attack their formation and send a thought to the Commander when he moves in telepathic range of Bandasar.”

  “Sir, I want to be here with my fleet!”

  “We’ll do it like Commodore Kline has suggested. Send your best Senior Commander and make sure he understands that he is not to attack until ordered to do so.”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  “Meg, I want a good targeting plan!!”

  “Yes, Sir. You’ll have it.”

  Randy looked at Emily, “I’m beginning to wonder who should be in command here.”

  Emily smiled, “Don’t. I have some talents but you are the one our sailors will follow through the gates of hell. You’ve won their devotion.”

  Randy stared at her in silence and then asked softly, “Have I won your devotion?”

  Emily smiled, “And a lot more than that.”

  Randy smiled and turned to view the wall monitor.

  • • •

  Embree looked at Shelly and said, “The Tronan Probes are on the way.”

  Shelly nodded and said over the communication system, “Attention all ships, prepare to initiate our run. Maintain half-speed and open fire on any Tronan Probe that gets inside our scanning range.”

  Embree shook his head, “We need them to see us, Shelly.”

  Shelly stared at Embree and said, “Open fire on the Tronan Probes pursuing us only on my command.” Embree nodded and stared at the active scanner monitor. It wouldn’t be long.

  • • •

  Sam looked at Jel and she said, “We’re within my telepathic range, Admiral.”

  “I need you to tell Lydia when she has to send the message!”

  “I’m in contact with Angel. I’ll let her give me the appropriate time.”

  Sam nodded and sat back in his chair, “That would be good.” Sam saw Jel’s expression and said, “He’s going to be fine, Jel.”

  “How can you say that, Sam?”

  “Because he’s in his element. You remember him fighting in the forests and jungles on Heaven. There’s no one better.”

  “I pray you are right, Admiral. He’s not faced anything like the Tronan before.”

  “He’ll be fine. Gregor and Kaylee are in command of the other two units and there is no one in this universe better at this kind of warfare. The three of them are prepared for what’s coming.”

  Jel nodded and sighed. She sat and waited for Angel’s message.

  • • •

  Lydia looked at Sam, “Admiral, the Tronan Probes that moved on to our filament have reversed course and are headed back toward their fleets.”

  Sam nodded and waited. His fleets were outside the Tronan scanning range in normal space; he was thankful that his scanners had a much longer range. These probes didn’t have the scanning range of the new Tronan Warships and that would make a huge difference. Two hours later, he looked at Lydia, “Order the fleets back to the filament and start moving toward Heaven’s intersection. We’ll stop outside the Tronan scanning range.” Lydia nodded and sent out the order.

  • • •

  Leonidas looked at Desiree, “Do you think this is a good idea?”

  “We’ll soon know.”

  “You don’t think the Tronan Leader will launch more probes when he arrives at the intersection? He would see us rather quickly if he does.”

  “I think Sam is relying on his greed.”

  “What do you mean.”

  “That Tronan Leader is focused on establishing a new empire in our space. His probes have let him know that there is nothing within striking distance on any of the filaments that go out of Heaven’s intersection. He’ll be focused on launching an invasion on Bandasar and that’s where he will send his probes. He’ll also know about our fleets inside Heaven’s System. I think he’ll be distracted by those items and forget to send out more probes in the other twenty-eight filaments. If we stayed where we were, it would take us too long to get back and take part in the coming battle.”

  “Would you do it, Desiree?”

  Desiree thought about it for a moment and shrugged, “Leo, he’s commanded large fleet actions and I haven’t. Every decision comes with risks and rewards. I wouldn’t have the nerve to do it.”

  “That’s not an answer.”

  Desiree sighed, “It comes down to whether we allow our scouts to attack with no support or move closer to defend them if things go bad. If I were in his shoes, I must say I’d do the same thing. Wouldn’t you?”

  “I would have already attacked them.”

  “And you would have lost. You are a brilliant warrior my love but aggression is not called for here. Patience is the word of the day.”

  Leo stared at her and then stuck out his tongue at her. Desiree laughed and Bart said, “Thank the creator that we have a good tactician on board.” Leo stuck his tongue out at Bart as well.

  • • •

  Fleet Director, the Doggets have begun arriving and are sending their data to my data-controllers.”

  The Fleet Director looked at his Science Director, “What have you determined.”

  “The closest Doggets found two items of interest. The first item was a group of warships holding station at the next intersection. As our Doggets approached them, they fled on one of the filaments that exits the intersection.” The Fleet Director stared at his Science Director with a frown and he continued, “Our Doggets pursued the warships into a planetary system. The first Doggets to discover them were fired on and destroyed but the following Doggets determined that they are a part of a large fleet of warships holding station close to the central star where the filament enters it.”

  “How large?”

  “About fifteen-thousand warships, Fleet Leader.”

  “Was an inhabited planet detected?”

  “No, Fleet Leader. However, that does not mean that one is not there.”

  “Explain.”

  “Those warships are there for a reason. The planet they’re probably defending may be on the other side of the central star and would not be visible to our scanners. One thing of interest is that there appears to be a small star in orbit around the much larger central star.” The Fleet Leader stared at the Director and he said, “The Doggets detected a vast debris field in normal space near that small star that contains vast quantities of armor from our warships.”

  The Fleet Leader sat up straight, “Are you sure the debris comes from our ships.”

  “I am, Fleet Leader. It appears that this is where our missing warship and squadron were destroyed.”

  “Tell me what you know about those warships in that system.”

  “They are powerful but are not in the same class as our own ships. They have sixty blasters on their hulls and the energy readings are close to t
hat of our own blasters.”

  “They’re not more powerful?” The Fleet Director asked.

  “I’ve analyzed one of the beams that destroyed a Dogget and it was not more powerful than our own blasters.”

  The Fleet Director thought for a moment and looked at his Second, “Two-hundred of our warships could be defeated by that many enemy vessels.”

  The Second nodded, “They must have been surprised and surrounded. It does appear one of our warships has as many blasters as three of those ships. We do have an advantage in firepower.”

  “What’s the other item?”

  “A heavily populated planet is not far away from the intersection,” the Science Director announced.

  The Fleet Director’s eyes widened, “How heavily populated?”

  “Ten to twenty billion inhabitants.”

  “Defenses?”

  “None were seen, Fleet Leader. There was heavy commercial traffic but that was all. There were no orbital defenses and no warships were detected.”

  “Send the coordinates of that planet to my Troop Transports and order them to start moving to that planet with an escort of a hundred warships the moment we arrive at the intersection.” The Fleet Director smiled and looked at his Second-in-Command, “Order the Fleets to go to full speed.” He turned back to the Communications Director, “After you send the coordinates to the transports, send the data we’ve collected to the Prime Director and tell him I await his instructions.”

  The Communication Director nodded and pressed a button on his panel.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The Prime Director appeared on the Major Fleet Leader’s wall monitor an hour later. He had assembled his ranking military leaders in the huge room and opened the conversation by saying, “You will go and destroy that fleet of ships, immediately!”

  The Major Fleet Leader was stunned by the pronouncement and said, “Should we not send some ships in to see if they are a real danger, Prime Director?”

  “No! My scientists have examined the scans the Doggets made and they are not a match for your fleets. It’s clear they destroyed our missing warships and they will not be allowed to survive.”