by Saxon Andrew
“It appears that they came after the ship was destroyed.” Science paused a moment and looked in the Military Quadrant and analyzed new data, “It also appears that the invaders are now able to hide their thoughts from our scanners.”
The Collective looked at Military’s data with Science and begrudgingly agreed. “You said that someone who also possessed mental powers would be needed to release this wave. None of our food could have possessed that kind of power.”
“You’re right. However, it was not one of the food that released this individual; we did it.”
The Collective looked again in Military’s information with Science and watched as the Warrior scanned and then touched one of the foods just before the first disruption hit. “How could we release this invader?”
“It was our combined connection with all of our Species that made it happen. The connection with trillions of us is extremely strong. The second blast was done by another invader that arrived when the combat started. They planned the final release just as our fleet arrived at the planet. It was that release that killed all of our warriors on and around the planet.”
Military asked, “Are we in danger of this wave being using against us?”
Science analyzed the data and responded, “Only if there is another individual with that magnitude of mental power and we are dumb enough to touch them. I don’t see how they could be released with anything but our combined mental connection. The being that was released here cannot cause that wave again.”
“Put that information into a form for all Quadrants to examine, and plan to discuss it next interval. Now; where is our fleet?” Silence greeted the question. “We can assume the crews were killed by that blue wave, but what happened to the ships?”
Science responded, “Perhaps we need to ask that question another way.”
“Such as?”
“If our crews were dead, we know no one could enter the ships from outside. That means they had to have been moved or disintegrated. The Question should be; what could destroy our ships?”
“Enough heat would do it,” Production answered. “We use high temperatures to mold the hulls.”
The Collective and all Quadrants looked at the star in the system. “Ship Director, make a detailed scan from the planet toward the system’s star.”
Two ships moved away from the planet and picked up speed as they broke out of orbit. “We have a reading of fuel across a wide band.”
“Fuel?”
“Yes. It’s very small, but is in a very wide band between the planet and the star.”
Science asked, “Is the fuel raw or burned?”
“Some of both.”
Military said, “They moved our ships into the star. They must have towed them.”
The Collective felt immediate nervousness, “How many ships did we send here?”
Military said, “We sent 400,000.”
“How long after the ships stopped reporting did we arrive in this system?”
“Six intervals.”
“Explain how our fleet could have been towed to the star and the ships used to move them could then get out of this system before we arrived? It’s ten intervals to the drive band from the planet, and they had to go another five intervals in-system to move our fleet. It also suggests that at least the number of our ships was used to move them. What does this tell us?”
Science answered, “They are not bound by the star drive limitation.”
The Collective and every Quadrant pondered that threat.
Military suddenly said, “What about our ships in the invader’s universe? We must warn them.”
“Do we have a ship outside the star drive band to send?”
“No; you told me to work on it later.”
The Collective ordered, “Send a ship from a system that has a small drive band.”
“It will still take five intervals.”
“Then get them moving; they must be warned.”
Values remained silent and knew trouble was not far away. It was becoming more difficult to hide the fear it felt.
Valerie and Jake arrived back in the Stars Realm and immediately received a com from Joe Gardner, “Your Majesty, the Keepers Fleet is now entering the Brayent System. The Cainth Colonists have launched ships to meet them coming in-system but have done no damage to the Keepers Fleet. What should we do?”
Valerie looked at Jake and said to Joe, “How many planets have they now attacked since our absence?”
“They destroyed the Gilmer System and immediately jumped to Brayent.”
“Give me a moment, Joe.”
Valerie looked at Jake, and he could tell something was wrong, “Jake, the first planet the Keepers Fleet attacked was Gambia.”
Jake stared at her struck silent by her revelation. After several moments he asked, “What happened?”
“They killed everyone with those beams and took two million from the largest city for consumption. No one survived.”
Jake thought about all the friends he had left behind and slowly started shaking his head. Valerie could hear his thoughts and worried about what this would do to him. Jake looked up at her and said, “Life there for most of the population was worse than living under the Keepers. For the millions suffering starvation and disease, quick death was a blessing. For the rich that preyed on the population, they couldn’t die slow enough to suit me.” Jake paused and then hit his com, “Joe, this is Jake Talant. How many Searchers do you have that are thought blocked?”
“Fifty thousand.”
“Get them together to attack this fleet.”
“How are we going to make that happen?”
Jake thought a moment, “Is there any time that the fleet stops and has its drives turned off?”
“That normally happens just before it goes to the planet’s surface to start their attack. They also reorganize their lines into formation after they leave the planet, and send craft down to collect inhabitants for their food stores.”
“Have they started their attack at Brayent?”
“No, but we can’t organize fast enough to get there before they do. They’re only an hour out from the planet.”
“Then it will have to be after the attack. Assign two Keepers’ ships to each Searcher and have them fire penetrators into their drive tubes. Each Searcher must make it happen quickly before the ships not hit first have time to react. It will kill their ships if we can do it before they turn on their drives.”
Joe looked at his display, “Manny, have you been listening in?”
“I have, Your Majesty. I’ve sent the message to Fleet Command and the ships are gathering in Earth’s system assigning targets from the probe’s scan. They will have the feed sent to their ships and will all jump simultaneously at the best moment to make this happen.”
Valerie looked at Jake, “We can’t save the planet?”
“Not and kill that fleet. If we jump in they will not turn off their drives. I wish there was something we could do, but I just don’t see any way to hit them and make a difference. Look at the feed from the planet: the Cainth there have modern ships that only lack teleportation capability. They are jumping in close to attack the Keepers’ ships and are having no effect on them. I’ve just watched six of their ships ram a Keepers’ ship and nothing happened, except the ships are disintegrated immediately after they strike the hull by a Keepers’ beam. Evidently the Keepers inside the ship can fire their individual beams through the hull.”
Jake looked at Valerie and hugged her tightly, “Junior and I are going to that battle. I need you to go to a safe place.”
“Jake, I’m not leaving you.”
“Yes, you are. You are the Queen of the Realm and your place is keeping the Realm reassured that we are doing all we can to protect them. My place is finding the means to kill these creatures. We are only a thought away and you know I’ll come when I can.”
Valerie looked into Jake’s eyes and marveled at how he’d changed since the casino. She wante
d desperately to stay with him, but knew he was right. “Junior, you’ll take care of him, right?”
“If he’ll allow it.”
“What about me?”
“Cynthia, I think you need to stay close to him.”
“Why? We brought him back safe!”
Jake smiled at the Searcher and said, “Now you know I’m going to be right in the middle of all the action. Do you want to be on the sidelines?”
Cynthia smiled and said, “Oh, well; I guess I’ll put up with you a little longer.”
Valerie smiled, “You two make a good team. Keep it up.”
Cynthia asked, “By the way, Valerie, where’s Admiral Zergl?”
“He’s been replaced by Manny.”
Cynthia’s expression turned into a huge smile, “Now we’ll get somewhere. What about Jake here; what’s his rank?”
“He is the Liaison for the Crown.”
Cynthia whistled. Jake looked at her and asked, “What does that mean?”
Cynthia smiled, “Very simply put, Mr. Talant, you actually outrank them all. You operate with the Authority of the Queen.”
Jake looked at Valerie and she nodded, “You are the difference maker; now go make a difference.”
Admiral Mord watched his fleet die around him. He banked his Alpha around one of the Keepers’ ships and fired his primary beam into the brown hull; it didn’t even show a flash. He jumped to the other side and launched twelve penetrators that hit the tail and just stopped and fell off. Nothing he tried had any effect. His original fleet had thirty thousand ships, which was now down to 3,200. He ordered his ships away from the huge fleet and gathered his forces outside the range of the Keepers’ main beams. “What are we going to do, Admiral?”
“We petition the Realm to join their forces and hope to take revenge on these creatures. Our planet is doomed and I see no sense in throwing away your lives against a force we cannot harm. I’ve already witnessed the death of most of my brave sailors. I desire to fly my ship into them, but it would only be suicide. You will stay here with me and watch our planet die and you will remember this moment the rest of your lives. I charge all of you to make them pay for what they’ve done this day.”
Mord watched the Keepers Fleet enter Brayent’s atmosphere and thought about the decision not to join the Realm when Brayent was first colonized. The new colony knew that it would be the power in this sparsely settled sector and wanted to be free to exercise its will over its neighbors. The Realm had issued them warnings several times, but the leaders made sure no Stars Realm planets or citizens were victims of their attacks. Mord shook his head, “If we had just joined we would have been able to teleport our population to safety. Now we pay the price for our arrogance.” The killing of the Brayent population began, and the Cainth Sailors watched with restrained rage.
Jake and Junior were parked outside the star drive limit watching as the Keepers moved toward the planet’s surface. “Jake, I need you not to use your telepathy when we are in proximity of a Keepers’ ship.”
“I can do that, Junior. It’s not using my mind to watch what’s happening that will cause me the most difficulty.”
“I’ll keep the screens active with a feed from our probe and my passive scanners. You should be able to view everything.”
Jake watched the death of Brayent and felt his anger grow. “Jake, a Keepers’ ship has just come out of star drive and is moving in-system.”
“That must be the ship coming to warn this fleet. I hope they don’t change their protocols.”
“Fleet Director, I have been sent here by the Collective to warn you about an enemy in this universe, however, I see you have already encountered the ships that are able to jump inside the Drive Band.”
The Fleet Director answered, “I was surprised by their ability to do that, but they were unable to harm my ships. We could have just ignored them, but we killed as many as came in range of our weapons.”
“Is it possible to take one of their ships back for us to examine?”
“Unfortunately, they would not stop fighting to the point where we could. If we go after those that survived, they will just jump away. Were you able to witness the battle?”
“Yes, I scanned it when I entered this universe and you’re right: these ships are no a danger to us. I’ll take the scan of this action back and report to the Collective as ordered. Please send me all that has happened so far.”
The Fleet Director linked minds with the messenger and sent the data. “I will deliver this. If anything happens that is out of the ordinary, send a ship back to report.”
“I will.”
The ship at the Star Drive Limit jumped out of the universe.
“Looks like they didn’t discover how we killed those ships.”
“Why do you say that, Jake?”
“The Fleet didn’t change what it was doing. I suspect they thought that it was my release that killed every Keeper. We’ll know shortly if they launch craft to collect stores from the surface.”
The Keepers Fleet was moving quickly forward when the Sensor Leader said, “There are thousands of craft fleeing in front of the fleet. They are in the air and flying faster than we are.
The Fleet Director looked at the scan and saw there was a huge cloud of aircraft a hundred miles in front of his ships. He thought a moment, then ordered, “
I want every odd numbered ship to accelerate ahead of our line and destroy those ships in front of us. Even number ships extend your beams to cover the space of the ships moving forward. We will slow down to make sure the beams stay at maximum efficiency until the ships return to our line.”
The Sensor Leader asked, “Do you not want to leave some of these creatures behind to later populate a farm?”
“No, they have fought too hard to stop us. They do not possess the right temperament to work a farm.”
“The ones in our home universe were domesticated.”
“And look what happened to our brothers there. No, we will eliminate them wherever we find them. Now that first planet would have made a good farm, and I regret disposing of them, but it’s too late now to change what happened.”
The Sensor Leader shrugged as 50,000 Keepers’ ships accelerated and closed on the fleeing craft in less than five seconds. As the beams hit the cloud of ships they began falling to the surface and exploding. Thousands scattered attempting to escape, but the Keepers overlapped their beams and there was nowhere to hide. Every ship crashed to the surface. The advanced Keepers’ ships stopped and waited for the rest of the fleet to join them, then they all moved forward.
Jake looked at the three thousand Brayent ships gathered in a group just outside the planet’s first moon and worried. “Junior, the Keepers may not launch their attack craft if the Brayent ships are still in system.”
“I was just thinking that, Jake, but how are we going to get them to move?”
“How far can you extend your jump screen? Is it possible to jump them all out of the system so I can communicate with them?”
Junior took a reading and said, “I’m sure I can make that happen. Stand by; I’ll jump in and take them.”
Mord was feeling rage and helplessness in equal measure. He was ready to order another attack but suddenly the planet disappeared and he found himself in empty space between galaxies. “What’s going on?” he asked his navigator.
“Communication coming in.”
“Put it on my console.”
“Please forgive me for taking you away from your planet, but we are going to attempt to attack that fleet and your presence may prevent us from using the only means of killing them.”
“Who is this?”
“My name is Jake Talant and I represent Valerie Gardner, the Queen of the Stars Realm. I have just arrived from the home universe of those creatures and I managed to kill one that was planning an ambush. We want to try and do the same thing to that fleet. I am truly sorry that we did not arrive in time to prevent their attack, but we need that fleet to s
top and turn off their drives in order for us to hit them. Their normal pattern is to assemble in orbit and send landing craft to the surface. If you had remained, they would probably change that pattern.”
Mord thought a moment, “Do you think you can kill those ships?”
“If they stop and turn their drives off, we will kill them.”
“Will they launch landing craft before you can attack?”
“Probably. Why do you ask?”
“I want to handle the landers.”
Jake thought a moment and then said, “I will send a feed from our probe to your board; the frequency is on your com. If we attack you will see explosions from the rear of the brown ships. You may then return and we will allow you first crack at the Keepers’ forces on the planet.”