by Saxon Andrew
Kel smiled, “So, as I understand it, we should stop building colony ships to flee and focus on building transports.”
Gregor nodded, “I suspect the colony ships you’re building can be converted to transports.”
Kel nodded, “I agree and they can hold a lot more than 35,000 of those scouts.”
Gregor looked at Heather, “I need another favor.”
“What is that?”
“I need a special model of the new scout built that’s about three times larger.”
“For what purpose?”
“I want our fleet commanders to have a vessel they can use to command their fleets; they should have the command circuitry installed on the First Officer’s panel.”
Heather looked at Gregory and he held up four fingers. She turned to Gregor and said, “We’ll have them available in four-months.”
Gregor smiled. Kel asked him, “Why did you keep what was being discussed secret?”
“Because of the rash of questions asked at the last meeting. We’d be here a month from now if I sent the information out.”
Kel laughed, “You’ve always been a fast learner, Gregor.”
“Be sure to tell that to my ship’s computer.” Everyone in the room laughed.
Jek said where everyone could hear him, “I have one last question.” Gregor nodded, “If we’re going to have these new ships ready in a year, why are we going to wait for them to come here. We could attack them in their territory.”
Everyone in the room looked at Gregor. “It’s like taking on a family of Nagsta’s in the Bellingham forest, Jek.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“Every warrior on Bellingham would. If it’s a large family, you want to bait a few of them out so you don’t have to take on the entire family.”
Jek smiled, “I understand.”
Heather looked at Gregory and he whispered to her, “A Nagsta is a huge carnivore that lives on Bellingham.” Heather nodded and turned back to Gregor.
Gregor looked around the room and said, “For those of you who have never been to Bellingham, by allowing the Tronan to continue to send large numbers of their fleets here, we will remove a large number of the ships they have to attack us later. We’ll continue to do that as long as they continue to send fleets.”
“And if they stop sending them?” Gem asked.
“Then that’s the time to go into the forest and take on the Nagsta Family,” Gregor replied. The gathering stood up and began cheering. Kaylee went to the front and hugged Gregor. Gregor looked at Randy and Emily and motioned them to the front of the room. They walked to the dais and Gregor announced over the room’s speakers, “These are the two brave warriors that flew the scout through the Tronan Warships!” The cheers grew louder and Kaylee said to Emily, “I notice something different on your hand”
Randy turned red as Emily smiled, “You saw it.” Kaylee laughed as Emily looked up at Randy, “It just took me a little longer to get him to see it.”
Gregor slapped Randy on the back and hugged him, “I need to teach you how to use a sword.”
Randy nodded, “I look forward to it.”
Gregor looked at Gem and saw him nod. These two needed to go through Gem’s devices. They were still young enough to tolerate the pain. There was so much to do but at least now there was hope. Hope is what would hold them all together through the worst of times.
THE END
Excerpt:
Death Never Leaves
a Calling Card
Chapter One
Randy looked at Tommy and put his hands on his shoulders, “Are you sure you understand your orders?”
“I do.”
“You and your fleet of scouts will move out on your transport immediately and move into Tronan Territory undetected. You must not be seen.”
“I’ll use the old scouts to patrol ahead of us and warn us of anything moving our way. I’ll make sure we stay hidden.”
“Your transport has enough provisions to keep you fighting for five years. You know what has to be done.” Tommy nodded and Randy hugged him, “Stay safe.”
“I’ll do what I can, Admiral.”
• • •
Tommy took a shuttle to the huge Dragon Transport and entered the landing bay. “Admiral, we need to start moving.”
“Sorry, Leb. I had to get my final orders. Is the short-cut open?”
“They’re waiting for us to arrive before activating it.”
“Get on the way. We’ll launch the scouts to patrol ahead of us when we clear the short-cut.”
Tommy walked through the cavernous landing bay and saw the thousands of scouts in their berths. The crews came to attention and saluted as he passed. He returned their salutes and finally arrived at his office. Roger smiled as he entered and said, “Your crews think you’re some kind of superhero.”
“Let’s see how they feel when we take on the Tronan Communication lines.”
“We’ll be fine, Admiral.”
“Call me Tommy, Roger.”
“You deserve your rank, Sir.”
“Sometimes I wonder.”
“What’s our first assignment.” Roger asked.
“There’s a planet we found a few years back with a Tronan Fleet surrounding it. I’ve been ordered to remove them and prevent them from communicating with their leadership.”
Roger shook his head, “Now that should prove interesting.” Tommy nodded and saw the Dragon’s Maw enter the filament on his wall monitor. He knew it would prove to be very interesting.
Copyright © 2017 by Saxon Andrew. All rights reserved. Screen Writers Guild no. VQEA3E380432.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author or publisher.
First Electronic Edition: February 2017