“Yes,” Ray nodded. “But early on it became clear that humans were too fearful of the Grays, so the treaty was signed and the Grays have just kept themselves mostly hidden from the human populations on a planet.”
“We honestly know very little about them beyond that,” Tacita said.
“Have you ever met a Gray?” Benny asked before Gina could.
“Tacita and I negotiated the treaty with them,” Ray said.
“We have not talked to a member of their race since,” Tacita said.
“With only one exception, no Seeder has talked to a member of their race in any capacity that we know of in millions of years,” Ray said.
Silence filled the room and Gina welcomed it as all eight of them sat there, all clearly lost in thought.
So once again, information about the past of the Seeders and humanity had been held from them and now it was suddenly in play. For such a vast universe, it sure seemed to be suddenly damn small.
Gina could feel her anger draining away. Ray and Tacita would have no reason to tell them of the Gray for this mission or for any mission, actually.
“So what do we do now?” Angie asked. “We have about forty thousand long-lived Seeders on Deep Cycle that now know about the Grays.”
“Not counting our entire command crew,” Gina said.
“And since the Grays are losing that fight,” Benny said, “they are going to need the help from their mistake to defeat our mistake.”
Gina laughed and the others just shook their heads and smiled.
“We will need to talk with the Grays,” Tacita said, glancing at Ray.
He nodded. “This is not a secret we can keep any longer among Seeders. We must continue to keep it from the general human populations on planets.”
“It seems that Seeders keep a lot of secrets,” Gina said. “So that shouldn’t be so hard.”
“Agreed,” Carrie said.
The other chairmen nodded.
Gina looked at Benny and he nodded, as if he could read her mind.
She turned to Ray and Tacita. “I would suggest that we move Star Rain to the new infestation until we have it contained. Star Mist and Star Fall can continue to direct the fight in this area.”
Ray and Tacita made no move at all, but the other chairmen nodded.
“The aliens are our mess,” Benny said. “If the Gray want to continue to help, fine. But they are losing and we need to stop this infestation quickly while it is manageable. We don’t have time for million-year-old politics.”
“You put our three ships and the six of us in charge of this battle for a reason,” Gina said, staring at Ray and Tacita. “Now let us do our jobs.”
Ray nodded to that.
Gina watched as Tacita sat dead still, no expression on her face at all.
“The six of us will have you an infestation containment plan in three days,” Benny said to Ray and Tacita. “One with the Grays helping and one with the Grays pulling back.”
“We will need to talk with the Grays and explain the situation,” Ray said.
“I see no reason, since you negotiated the old treaty, why you would not remain the contact person with them,” Gage said.
Gina nodded and noticed everyone else did the same.
“Star Mist,” Angie said into the air, “what are the chances at this point we will defeat the aliens and stop them from spreading through known space?”
“With the forces we have or could bring to bear by a likely foreseeable future point,” Star Mist said, “the aliens will not be contained. So there is zero percent chance of containment, to answer your question directly.”
“Thank you, Star Mist,” Angie said.
Then Gina watched as Angie turned back to Ray and Tacita.
“You need to do more than explain to them the problem,” Angie said. “You need to get them to help us. They live on worlds that will be destroyed by the aliens as well.”
Ray nodded. “I do not think the Grays know we are here or where these aliens came from.”
“Oh, that’s going to be a fun conversation,” Benny said.
“Just get them to help,” Benny said. “Even it means giving them the technology for the faster trans-tunnel drive.”
Ray and Tacita’s heads both snapped around to look at Gina and Benny.
Gina was shocked at that reaction.
“Are you saying they only have standard trans-tunnel drive?” Ray asked.
“That’s how their ships are moving,” Benny said, “from the first reports from Deep Cycle.”
Ray turned to look at Tacita. She was looking slightly shocked.
Gina had no idea why.
Ray turned back to look at Gina and Benny. “Do not bother with a battle plan where the Grays do not help.”
Tacita nodded at that.
Then both of them stood.
“We must consult with a few others who know of and study the Grays,” Ray said.
“Please, please,” Angie said, “keep us informed on what you find.”
Tacita nodded to that. “We will. This secret is now past a point of value.”
“And please move Star Rain toward the new infestation at highest possible speed,” Ray said. “Negotiating with the Grays from a position of power on a huge mother ship will be helpful.”
Gina understood that completely.
A moment later Ray and Tacita were gone.
The six of them just sat there.
Finally Benny said, “Well, can’t say this job is boring.”
Gina could only laugh at that.
TWENTY-ONE
SIX MONTHS LATER, completely shielded and with a force of eighty military mother ships on board and thousands and thousands of the small attack ships called Sharks, Star Rain eased into position near Deep Cycle.
Benny had been studying the battle the Grays had been fighting against the aliens and it had become clear that their long-range scanners were not that good. Some alien ships were getting through.
So the chairmen had authorized the Sharks on Deep Cycle to take care of the alien ships that had gotten through while staying shielded. That way they didn’t give some of those alien ships a six-month free pass.
During that six months, thousands more Gray ships had poured into the area. But the Grays still had no hope of containing this infestation with their slower ships and scanning that wasn’t picking up all alien ships.
Ray and Tacita had kept their promise and kept the chairmen informed about what they found from research with those who had more knowledge about the Grays. It seemed that it was always rumored that the Grays had a large region of space and occupied planets in hundreds of thousands of galaxies.
It was also clear that they did not much care for humans, but tolerated them. When on human planets that Seeders had altered and planted human populations, the Grays stayed completely hidden and shielded from the humans and liked it that way.
Benny had suggested that Star Rain launch all its ships and Deep Cycle do the same and all drop shields at the same time as Ray and Tacita moved to contact the Grays. It would be an impressive show of power and force.
Ray and Tacita both agreed.
It took almost a full day for Star Rain and Deep Cycle to launch all the ships they had been carrying and spread them out into a formation behind them facing the battle galaxies that would look impressive. The formation covered almost two light years.
And each ship had a destination area planned in the battle and locked in when Star Rain gave the go-ahead.
Again Benny was stunned at the scale that Seeders just worked naturally.
Then Ray and Tacita jumped to the Command Center of Star Rain.
Everyone in the room bowed slightly when they appeared and dead silence filled the massive space.
It dawned on Benny that his command crew had never had a chance to meet the legendary Chairmen Ray and Tacita. After the last decades, he had forgotten they were special.
Gina stood beside Benny on his right and R
ay and Tacita stood beside him to the left.
“Ready?” Benny asked.
Both Ray and Tacita nodded.
“Not a word, folks,” Benny said, turning to look at the command crew behind him. “Not even a slight noise. And bow when we bow.”
He got nods as he turned back.
“Star Rain,” Benny said, “Have all ships drop shields on my mark.”
“Standing by,” Star Rain said.
“Now,” Benny said.
On one part of the big screen it showed the image of the massive Seeders fleet spread over a large area of space. The military mother ships were slightly in front of their vast numbers of Sharks.
Star Rain led the large fleet and Deep Cycle was second and back, showing which ship was in command clearly.
The Gray fleet could now suddenly see the Seeders’ fleet. That was going to be a shock, Benny figured.
“Seeders Chairmen Ray and Tacita to talk with the honored Grays fleet commander,” Ray said.
Benny knew Ray’s words were translated into the language of the Grays and sent to all ships within fifty galaxies. He also knew that the image of the four of them standing and waiting was also being broadcast.
Ray had warned them to not be impatient, that it would take some time for the Grays commander to study the situation and respond. They were a methodical race.
So they all stood, hands behind their backs, staring at the screen in front of them.
It took almost four full minutes before the screen flickered and an image of a Gray appeared. Large head, large round eyes, thin neck and seemingly no clothes at all. Benny had no idea how they told each other apart, since every image Benny had seen of them seemed to be identical.
Ray, Tacita, Benny and Gina all bowed.
And Benny hoped like hell that everyone behind them bowed as well.
“Thank you for speaking with us, Great One,” Ray said as he came up out of his bow.
The Gray bowed slightly in response. “It has been many millions of what you call year-cycles since our last conversation. I am honored.”
What might have been considered the Gray’s mouth did not really move as he spoke.
And clearly they knew Ray and Tacita just fine. And that meant that they either lived as long as Seeders or had a solid hive-mind memory.
“The honor is ours,” Ray said. “I would request a private meeting to talk about the situation we face with this dangerous and expanding alien race.”
The Gray nodded just slightly. Then said, “It would seem to be in our mutual best interests.”
“Thank you,” Ray said, nodding.
“I am afraid all of our ships are military in nature and would not be suited for such a meeting,” the Gray said. “So this meeting will need to take place in this communication mode if that is acceptable to you, Chairmen Ray and Tacita.”
“Acceptable,” Ray said, bowing.
Tacita nodded.
“Please take the time you need to prepare,” Ray said. “But may I ask permission for our smaller ships to move out around the battle area and help in tracking down and destroying the alien ships while our discussion continues.”
The Gray’s expression did not change, but Benny would have bet anything it was puzzled.
Ray did not force the Gray to ask, but instead continued onward.
“Our ships are very fast,” Ray said. “We can move between galaxies at less time than what we call a day in our time-cycle. And our scanning equipment can pinpoint an alien ship moving throughout this entire battle area from any location.”
The Gray seemed to think for a moment, then nodded. “You have our permission. We will talk again in exactly two of your cycle days.”
The screen went blank, replaced by the image of the huge battle area.
“Star Rain,” Benny said, “have everyone scramble to assigned areas at top speed. Let’s show the Grays what we can do in the next forty-eight hours.”
“And that’s exactly what we wanted,” Ray said, nodding.
He glanced at Benny and Gina. “Thank you both. We will return before the next meeting.”
And with that, Ray and Tacita jumped away.
“Well,” Benny said, shaking his head and turning to face his command crew still looking shocked at their stations, “that was fun.”
SECTION FIVE
The Price of Help
TWENTY-TWO
WITH BOTH THE Gray and the Seeders’ fleets attacking the new infestation, it had become clear that this battle would be under control fairly quickly.
Gina liked that, like the feeling of actually accomplishing something after so much bad news.
Ray and Tacita had met with the Grays ten times over a period of two months and now, today, back in the conference room on Star Mist, they were going to detail out the talks and possible agreement.
Gina and Benny were already in their seats around the large conference table, as were Carrie and Matt and Angie and Gage, when Ray and Tacita arrived.
Gina looked for any sign they were tired or happy or anything, but the two just seemed to go through life on a very, very even level. After being alive for that many millions of years, Gina figured there wasn’t that much that could shock them.
After Ray and Tacita were seated, Ray said, “We have come to an agreement with the Grays.”
Gina and everyone just nodded.
“The terms are basic,” Tacita said. “We will give them the improvements to the trans-tunnel flight in exchange for them sending a large fleet to help us contain this area.”
Gina was very happy to hear that their numbers were going to be large enough.
“They will retrofit their military ships with the new drive and build more,” Ray said. “They will, with the first fleet of their improved ships take over the defense of the infestation they were fighting.”
“Our ships will be free to return at that point,” Tacita said. “That timeline should be five years.”
Gina nodded to that.
“The Grays believe that in ten years they could have five million of their ships fighting in this area,” Ray said.
“Wow,” Benny said.
Carrie and Gage smiled. Gina felt the same way. Five million more ships plus the million more Seeder ships being built in that period of time will give them a chance at holding the line against the alien ships.
“We have agreed,” Tacita said, “to modify our original treaty so that Seeders can know about the Gray, but no human.”
“That should protect their millions of cities on human planets,” Ray said.
Gina liked that as well until Tacita said the next sentence.
“We must therefore,” Tacita said, “remove the human Creators’ fleet and the Exterminators’ fleet from the fight before the first Gray ship shows up here in three years.”
“And how do you intend to do that?” Angie asked a half second before Gina could.
“In six months the mother ship Evening Tide is scheduled to arrive here,” Ray said. “Chairmen Leigh and Oliver have offered to unload the military ships they are bringing and take both fleets back about halfway to the human occupied sector and find them a suitable planet for a home base.”
Gina nodded and the room was silent. Gina knew that Evening Tide could hold every ship in both human fleets without a problem.
“And if they don’t want to go?” Benny asked.
“That will be up to you and Gina to make sure they agree,” Ray said. “We have no choice. The Grays fighting with us on this will make the difference.”
Angie laughed. “And you told the Grays who created the aliens, didn’t you?”
“We did,” Tacita said. “And said they are being dealt with.”
“We fight their fight,” Ray said, a hint of anger in his voice, “clean up their ancestor’s mess, they get to start over and settle down in a galaxy all their own. It is the fairest deal we can offer them.”
Gina just shook her head.
“Bad blood still
flowing deep after millions of years,” Matt said, clearly disgusted.
“We should have just left them in the empty-space bubble,” Gage said.
Ray and Tacita said nothing to that.
TWENTY-THREE
BENNY AND GINA stood in front of their command chairs, watching the big screen as Star Rain made final approach to The Creators’ fleet of ships. The fleet looked tired, even from a distance. It was only a matter of time before they would no longer be able to go on.
He didn’t much like the solution that was required for the two human fleets, but it was better than anything he could come up with. And from what they had learned about the two fleets of humans, they had always hoped to find a good place to settle, but had yet to find anything suitable.
And then a few hundred thousand years, they had only fought to contain their ancestor’s mistakes. So they had taken no time to look for a new home. With the aliens on the move, no new home would be safe.
But the Seeder scout ships had found a couple of planets in a galaxy about halfway back to human space that were perfect, one for the Creators, one for the Exterminators, and yet close enough the two cultures could work between systems in trade.
And the galaxy could be protected from the aliens.
It was an ideal solution and one he and Gina had to sell. There was no other choice.
With the Grays coming into the fight here, there was a slight chance the aliens could be stopped and defeated. And a slight chance was better than they had had for the last few decades.
“Holding position with The Creators’ mother ship, Stahl,” Star Rain said.
Benny glanced at Gina. She took a deep breath and nodded that she was ready.
“Drop shields and ask for a conference with Chairman Havemann,” Benny said.
Benny and Gina had decided they needed to do this in person, so they were going to ask permission to go on board the Stahl as no one in that fleet could teleport since they were all human.
A moment later, Chairman Havemann appeared on the screen in front of them. Benny was shocked that the younger-looking woman they had met the first time was showing signs of aging and had a pretty good streak of gray in her hair now.
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