The Death Filament: Some Places Should Be Avoided
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The Major Fleet Leader lowered his head and said, “I will send my fleets to attack as soon as I receive confirmation on the success of the planet I’m invading.”
The Prime Director’s frown was instant, “Invasion! What are you talking about?”
“Prime, there is an undefended heavily populated planet not far away that I’ve sent my transports to invade. I intend to collect enough stores to replace all of those used on the voyage here as well as enough to get us back to our territory.”
The Prime Director stared at him in silence and knew the ranking Military Directors in the room would agree with his decision; they knew how much this voyage had cost the Major Fleet Leader. The Prime Director knew this Fleet Director knew it as well. “If it’s not defended, you do not need to delay your attack.”
“I only intend to make sure our warriors are safely on the planet’s surface and then I’ll start the attack. With your permission, Prime Director.”
“You will continue to send the images from your monitors and that includes the ones from that planet. Is that clear!”
“Yes, Prime Director.” The Major Fleet Director looked at his Scanner Director and nodded. He then looked at his Second, “Organize the fleets. My fleet will form-up around my ship and you will lead the other four fleets against that fleet near the central star on my order.”
The Second-in-Command did not like this turn of events, “Fleet Director, should we not send all of our fleets?”
“No. One will need to stay here to keep track of the invasion as well as your attack. If you encounter any trouble, I will send my squadrons in to your defense.” The Second stared at the Fleet Leader as he said, “I need my best commander leading this attack. I’m depending on you to make that fleet pay for their actions. Launch Doggets ahead of you and see if you can determine why that fleet is in that system. We’ve not detected an inhabited planet near that star.”
The Second lowered his eyes and said, “I will leave for the Second Fleet’s command vessel.” He turned and walked off the huge bridge for the landing bay to board a shuttle.
The Major Fleet Leader smiled, “Now he could do whatever he chose with the Second out of the way. He wondered if he was missing something. He thought about sending out more Doggets but heard, “Fleet Director, all of the commercial vessel around the planet are fleeing to another filament.”
“Have you detected any warships?!” The Fleet Director asked.
“No, however, some could be hiding on the other side of the planet. We should know shortly if there are.” The Fleet Director leaned his chair back and stared at the main wall monitor. Forgotten was the idea of sending out more Doggets.
• • •
The Prime Director sat on his huge command-chair and watched the Tronan Transports move toward the planet. He looked at his Science Director, “How many inhabitants?”
“Ten-billion plus on the side of the planet we’re viewing.”
One of the Military Directors blew out a loud breath and said, “That planet is a huge treasure!”
The Prime Director nodded and knew that the Major Fleet Leader was invading that planet because it gave him the first rights on that sector. He didn’t like that at all…but he knew the other Directors would turn on him if he tried to stop the Director from replacing his losses. So far, no warships had appeared. This Fleet Leader would return as a hero if he removed that fleet and conquered a planet in that space. He could very easily become a rival to the throne. The transports arrived and the landing-ships began leaving the huge vessels. No blasters were fired from the planet’s surface as the landing ships moved into the planet’s atmosphere. He lifted his communicator and said, “You will commence your attack now!”
“But…”
“I will not stand for further delay. Your landers are not even being challenged and are moving unopposed toward the surface. Launch your attack now!”
The Fleet Director knew he had no choice. The Prime Director was within his authority to order the attack, especially since there was no opposition at the planet being invaded. He lowered his head and lifted his communicator, “Fleets two through four will enter the filament, go to full speed, and move in to attack that fleet of warships close to the central star.”
The Second-in-Command looked at his Communication Director, “Fleets Four and Five will lead our formations. Fleet Two will move above the two fleets and Fleet Three will form up below them. Go to stardrives and form up in the filament.”
The Major Fleet Director saw the four fleets disappear from normal space and then looked at the Other-Space Monitor. The fleets were launching thousands of Doggets to probe ahead of the four fleets.
• • •
Gregor looked at Kel and said, “What’s going on?”
“It appears the landing craft are going to wait until all of them are out of their transports before they move toward the surface. You were right about them only planning to attack the largest cities below their escorts.”
Gregor nodded, “It only made sense. They normally use a single transport to attack a city and they didn’t bring enough to attack every city on the planet. Do you have an idea of how long it’s going to take for them to get all of their landers out of the transports?”
Kel shook his giant head, “It’s a rough guess but I suspect it will take about four hours.”
Gregor sighed, “It’s going to take the Tronan Fleets six hours to arrive at Embree’s Fleets.”
“It will take an additional hour for the Landers to land at the cities. They’ll have to come down and surround each of the cities as well as get their forces out of the landers.”
Gregor shrugged, “I imagine they’ll want to hurry. The civilians in the cities have already started fleeing into the forests and surrounding areas.”
Kel shook his head, “They are highly trained and they know most the cities’ populations will not have time to escape. They will not rush in and lose their organization.” Kel paused and said, “They might rush in if they detect the number of inhabitants boarding the underground transport system. By the time they land, there won’t be many left for them to capture.”
“They won’t see that, Kel.”
“How do you know, Gregor.”
“Because they’ve already scanned the cities and are now scanning for possible warships coming from the other side of the planet that can be used against them. The Transport’s scanners will be blocked by the thousand plus landers forming up between them and the planet. Some of the warships will be moving over the curvature of the planet looking for hidden warships. I do have to say that the constant practice of the populations getting out of the city is paying off.”
Kel nodded, “When do we move in?”
“We will not be free to attack until Fleet Admiral Oliver notifies us.”
Kel sighed, “I hope they don’t detect the weapons we’ve hidden in the cities.”
“They’re all hidden in buildings near the cities’ nuclear power sources. They won’t activate until they receive orders to do so.”
“What if the Tronan make it into those buildings before orders to fire are given?”
Gregor looked at Kel, “Then we are going to lose a lot of our warriors.”
• • •
The Second looked at the data being sent from the Doggets and contacted the Fleet Director, “The Doggets have detected a large electronic signature emanating from the other side of the central star.”
“What?”
“We’re not able to see what is causing it but my Science Director says it’s strong enough to be coming from a planet.”
“Send Doggets out to confirm it,” the Fleet Director ordered.”
“The filament ends on this side of the star, Fleet Director, and the Doggets would have to leave the filament and fly over or below the star to see what’s on the other side. That would take at least two days at their maximum speed. Are you willing to delay our attack that lo
ng?”
The Prime Director interrupted their conversation, “No! You will destroy that fleet and then go after the planet!”
The Fleet Director looked at his Second and said, “You have your orders.”
The Tronan Fleets moved in toward the large fleet of warships, erupted from the filament and went to full speed in normal space. The fifteen-thousand warships they were rushing in on launched a massive missile barrage. The Second ordered, “Fire all blasters!”
The Tronan Fleet flew at high speed into the oncoming wave of missiles and then the wave of missiles hit the edge of the Tronan blaster coverage. The trillium tipped missiles caused gigantic explosions and the leading edge of the Tronan formation flew into the explosions. Eight hundred Tronan Warships were blown apart. The Second yelled over his communicator, “ALL SHIPS STOP!”
A second missile barrage was moving in at high speed, struck the edge of the blaster coverage, and again produced another wave of giant explosions. But the explosions did not make it through to the blaster barrage to the surviving Tronan Vessels.
The Fleet Leader’s eyes were slits as he ordered, “YOU WILL NOT FLY INTO THOSE MISSILE BARRAGES! YOU WILL STOP AND WAIT FOR THE EXPLOSIONS TO DIE DOWN!!”
The large fleet of enemy warships moved away from the filament and began moving to go over the top of the central star. The Fleet Director ordered the thousands of surviving Tronan Warships to give chase. “You will stop at their missile barrages.”
“If we do that, they will open a large gap between our forces, Fleet Director,” the Second replied.
“What of it? They’ll have to stop at their planet. You have no need to lose ships chasing them; they’ll have to stop at their home world to defend it.”
The Prime Director said, “It appears we now know how our squadron was destroyed.”
The Fleet Leader nodded, “Two-hundred warships would have been destroyed by that missile barrage. Now we know how to avoid any further destruction.”
The fleeing fleet launched three more widely spaced missile barrages as it flew away at high speed and the Fleet Director ordered, “Remain where you are until all three waves have expended themselves on your blaster coverage.”
• • •
Embree smiled three hours later, “It’s like Fleet Admiral Oliver thought. They’re holding position.” He looked at Angel and nodded.
Angel closed her eyes and thought, “Sam, I’m activating the plan in thirty-seconds.”
Sam turned around and yelled, “LYDIA, SEND THE BURST!!” He lifted his communicator, “All ships, enter the filament and go to full speed. I repeat, go to full speed!”
• • •
Randy received the burst and thought, “Meg, we’ll open fire in exactly thirty-seconds. Connect me with all our ships and order them in to their assigned targets. Fire on my command!”
• • •
Ten seconds after Lydia sent the Squeal burst, Tommy received the burst and thought, “Tej, attack in ten-seconds. Start the count down now!” The ten scouts in Tommy’s unit moved in at high speed toward the ten Tronan Warships as they heard in their minds, “Eight…seven…six…five…four…”
Tommy rushed in on the first Tronan Warship in their communication line and lined the scout up on the nuclear missiles launchers on the bottom of the giant vessel. At the same moment, Gloria was hearing, “Three…two…one…”
• • •
The Fleet Leader was staring at his monitor and suddenly his eyes narrowed. He looked at his Science Director and saw shock written on his face. “What is…” At that moment, the communication line went down.”
• • •
The Prime Director was staring at the giant wall monitor and heard the Fleet Leader say, “What is…” Then the monitor went black.
The Prime Director stood up and yelled, “WHAT IS GOING ON!?!”
“Prime Director, we have lost our line of communications.”
“Reestablish it!!”
The Senior Communications Director pressed buttons at high speed and then looked up, “None of the ships in the communication line is responding.”
The Prime Director looked at his ranking Military Director, “GET A SHIP OUT TO THE FIRST SHIP IN THAT COMMUNICATION LINE…NOW!!!”
The Director went to the communication panel and entered a frequency. He began speaking and said, “I’ll have a Fleet there in less than an hour!”
The Prime Director knew that the first ship in the communication line was close enough to contact him directly. He wondered what was happening.
• • •
“…going on?” the Fleet Director asked. A moment later, massive explosions went off in the warships surrounding his vessel. The thousand Advanced Warships inside the tight formation immediately opened fire forming a giant covering globe around his ship.
The Scanning Director yelled, “THREE THOUSAND OF OUR WARSHIPS HAVE BEEN ATTACKED AND ARE DESTROYED OR OUT OF ACTION, FLEET DIRECTOR?”
“HOW WERE THEY ATTACKED?”
“Nothing appeared on my scanners!” The Director looked back at his panel and turned to the Fleet Director, “There are more than twenty-five-thousand warships coming off a filament and moving at high speed toward us, Fleet Director!!
The Fleet Leader looked at his Science Director, “Fleet Director, the filament that our ships took to attack that fleet is no longer there.” The Fleet Director started shaking his head and the Science Director said, “Without the filament to return, it will take our fleets more than ninety years to come back to this location.”
The Pilot saw the Fleet Director was stunned and unable to speak. He turned the giant flagship and yelled over his communicator, “FLEE AND KEEP YOUR BLASTERS FIRING.”
The thousand and one Tronan Warships turned and fled on the filament they had arrived on. The Fleet Director fought to regain his composure and looked at his Scanning Director, who looked up from his panel, “The fleets pursuing us are fifty-percent faster than our maximum speed. We will not outrun them.”
The Fleet Director nodded and said, “What about our communication line.”
“It’s totally down.”
“Load in all the data we’ve collected and launch every message probe we have. We must warn the Empire about what is here.” The Communication Director nodded and sent orders to the surviving warships. Twenty-minutes later, the blaster barrage stopped and more than a half-million probes left their formation.”
Sam watched the probes leave the Tronan Warships and shook his head. There was no way to prevent all of them from making it back to Tronan Space. He looked at Rangel, “How long until contact?”
“Two hours, Admiral.”
Sam nodded and sat back in his chair.
• • •
The Fleet Leader’s Second-in-Command saw the filament disappear behind his warships and felt his fear consume him. He knew that without the filament, there was no way to leave this star system during his lifetime. He started shaking his head and the Minor Fleet Director said, “The warships that attacked us are trapped here as well. They must have a way to escape!”
The Second stared at him and ordered, “Go to maximum speed and chase them down!” The thousands of warships went to full boosters and flew at maximum speed over the top of the sun.”
• • •
Embree immediately contacted Pletal when Angel announced the initiation of the plan and said, “Shut it down, Pletal and get moving into the filament.”
“It’s not appeared yet.”
“Give it fifteen seconds and then go to maximum speed when it appears. Your vessel is the slowest one in this system and I need it out of here quickly. Embree watched his monitor and saw the images being sent by the probes he ejected as his fleets fled from the Tronan formations. He pressed a button on the panel and saw the Insectoid Fleet Commanders appear on his monitor, “Launch three more missile barrages and move into the filament at high speed when you arrive. W
e have to get to the next intersection before we remove the filament.” Embree looked at Shelly, “Have you been able to see if they’ll make it to the filament before we shut it down?”
“They won’t if they slow down to avoid the missile explosions. However, if they fly through the barrages, they will make the filament before we arrive at the intersection.”
Embree nodded and looked at Angel, “The intersection closest to the new filament you created is twice as far as the closest one to Heaven.”
“I know but it was the only one that would stay in balance with the other filaments around this area of space when I removed the one they came in on.”
Embree nodded and heard Shelly announce, “The colony ship has already turned off the electronic systems that gave a false reading on a planets existence. The new filament has appeared and it is moving at maximum speed toward the intersection. We have a sizable lead on their fleets and should enter the filament several hours before they arrive, even if they don’t slow down.”
Embree nodded and said over the general frequency, “Push the boosters. Those Tronan figured out a lot faster than I thought possible that we must have a means of escaping.” The Insectoid Warships increased speed and pushed their reactors to the edge of their capabilities.
• • •
The Tronan Fleets came over the top of the central star and detected another filament leading away from it. The large fleet of warships they were pursuing was already at the filament’s location and disappearing from normal space. A Tronan Fleet Director said over the Flagship’s communicator, “There are three more waves of missiles moving toward us. Do we stop!”
The Second said forcefully over his communicator, “ABSOLUTELY NOT. IF THEY CAN REMOVE ONE FILAMENT, THEY CAN REMOVE THAT ONE AS WELL. MAINTAIN MAXIMUM SPEED. INITIATE CYLINDER FORMATION!”
Hundreds of the Tronan Warship Directors who were on the outer edge of the formation knew that their lives were going to end. The surviving warships formed up into a long cylinder to avoid hitting the incoming missiles across a wide front. The formation punched through the first barrage but six-hundred more ships were destroyed. By the time the Tronan Fleets punched through the third barrage, only eighteen-thousand of the original twenty-thousand warships that entered the system were still operational. Losing two-thousand warships wasn’t catastrophic but they had to make it to that filament.