Defending Earth-Searching for Death Feeders

by Saxon Andrew

“Willow, there’s no need to worry.”

  “Easy for you to say. Something dramatic just happened.”

  “Kyle and Nicole are going to have children that will ultimately lead the fight against the Death Feeders. The Nudges needed to see if they made the right choices when they modified their DNA and Brittany and I are out here to confirm they did.”

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “Willow, their children will have a brain that will be like our two brains that are now linked. If what we suspect is true, the Feeders will not be able to detect them. They won’t need thought blockers. They will probably be immune from them consuming their minds.”

  “Just how do you intend to prove this?”

  Poncho looked at Cisco, “You are going to have to leave us before we go back.”

  “Oh no I won’t.”

  Poncho slowly shook his head, “Jose, if you’re on board when we move deeper into Feeder Territory, they will sense you even with the thought blockers and they will break through and consume your mind. You know too much and that could cause an instant invasion of the Alliance. You’re here because Fleet thought we would work better together but, in this instance, it could get us killed.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I would have to reveal the presence of our ship to get you out to save you. I don’t want to pull rank and order you to do this but I will if I have to. I’d prefer you understand and go without my having to do that.”

  “Are you sure about this, Alex?”

  Poncho sighed. They never called each other by their given names unless it was over something serious, “I am, my friend.”

  Cisco looked at Brittany, “Do you agree?”

  “I do.”

  “Poncho, if you go and get yourself killed, I will never forgive you.”

  “I have to take the risk. I’ll do what I can to survive but this has to be done.”

  Cisco blew out a breath and nodded slowly, “Take me back to Fleet Operations. Willow, you will let me know if anything happens.”

  “I will if I’m able to do it.”

  Alex shook his head, “Prepare a light probe and launch it if things go south.”

  “I will.”

  Jose shrugged, “Take me back.” The Light Ship appeared at the front entrance to Fleet Operations and Cisco stood up. He walked over to Poncho and gave him a hug and patted him on the back. He then walked over to Brittany and she stood up and hugged him. “You’re getting a fine man.”

  “If I didn’t know before, I know it now.” Jose released her, looked at Poncho, and walked off the bridge. Brittany looked at Poncho, “He really loves you.”

  Poncho nodded, “He is closer than my family. I hated having to do this.” He looked at the wall monitor and saw Cisco exit the ship and walk away from Fleet Operations.

  “Where is he going?”

  “He’s going to spend some time to prepare for what might happen. He knows what danger we’re going to face. He’ll be ok after a few hours.”

  “What are you intending to do?”

  “Willow, when you’re planning to attack an enemy, what does a Commander normally do first?”

  “That’s easy. You send scouts out to gather intelligence on the enemy.”

  “I knew that, Amber.”

  “Oops, sorry for interrupting.”

  “Don’t worry about it. However, isn’t that exactly what we were doing?”

  “Well, yes and no. We were going out to find the main planets of the Feeders and we intended to do it without being seen.”

  “How has that changed?”

  “Willow, do you think the Alliance will have major technological breakthroughs before we eventually have to face the Death Feeders?”

  “You can never anticipate a breakthrough.”

  “Just answer the question.”

  “Probably not. I suspect they will find the Alliance within the next hundred or so years and our current ships haven’t changed much over the last hundred years. The Alliance will need much longer than a hundred years for any real breakthrough to happen.”

  “This ship we’re on is the pinnacle of our technology. It has more stealth systems than our normal Light Ships but it isn’t radically different from them. The most radical change we can make is in the pilots that fly them. We are going to see if we can take this vessel into Feeder Space and survive. If we can, then we’re moving in the right direction.”

  “And if we can’t?”

  “Then the various species in the Alliance are probably doomed. Brittany and I are the ones that will have to determine if we have a chance of success.”

  “If the Feeders see you, it might precipitate an immediate invasion.”

  “We’re going to try and prevent that.”

  “How?”

  “We’re going to move into that galaxy on a different approach. We’ll be coming in from directly above the plane of that galaxy and if we’re forced to run, that is the direction we will take going out.”

  “The Alliance is located below that galaxy.”

  “I’m hoping that will send them in the opposite direction in search of us…if they see us.”

  “It might be a good idea to allow them to see you. It may give us more time.”

  “I’ve thought about that, Amber. However, we need to see how we do before we make that decision.”

  “So how are we going to go about doing this?”

  “Willow, we’re going to skip out over the Feeder’s Main Galaxy and start moving in. We will go to minimum power and not have the force field or thought blockers activated.”

  “That’s suicide.”

  “I don’t think so; at least I’m somewhat certain that Brittany and I won’t be detected. If that’s true, we stand a smaller chance of being detected by that being we heard before we skipped out.”

  “But Brittany said that it had sensed our presence.”

  “That was before Brittany and I linked mentally. You should also know that the being we heard was not an individual Feeder.”

  “What?”

  “It seems that all the Feeder Leaders remain linked at all times. That being is an entity produced by their linkage and is an incredibly powerful telepath. It’s like the entity that was created at the Legend’s Home Galaxy and operates independently of the masses. It sensed us before at extreme range and if we had continued forward, I believe it would have been able to find our location.”

  “This vessel cannot function without using power to operate it.”

  “The shielding on the electrical conduits and other systems is larger than any other ship in the fleet. We’ll use our armor for environmental and the barrier drive to move us. The compressed air tanks will provide our thrust and I do believe we will not be seen by that entity.”

  There was a long moment of silence and Amber finally broke it, “Didn’t you say that you and Brittany are an experiment by the Nudges to see if they were on the right track? What if they’re wrong?”

  Brittany sighed, “Do either of you think we can continue in to that galaxy without being seen doing it like we were? If it can sense this ship, how are we ever going to be able to attack the Feeders at their core? This has to be done.”

  “And what happens if that entity is able to enter your minds?”

  Poncho leaned forward, “Willow, you will eject our chairs out of the hull and get out of there. You will monitor us and do what has to be done. You know you are immune to the Feeders.”

  “Am I?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If that entity is as powerful as you say, it could invade my processors, it will probably possess telekinesis powers as well.”

  Brittany looked at Poncho and pursed her lips, “Then you will not use your telepathic receiver outside the hull of this ship. You will only monitor our minds.”

  “You’ll be going in blind if I do that?”

  “No, Brittany and I will be listening and will hear it.”

  “Amber, what do y
ou think about this?”

  “Willow, I’m going to shut down my systems and send everything to their panels. They’re right, this has to be done.”

  Poncho actually heard Willow sigh over the loud speaker, “Then I should do the same. I am going to activate the ship’s self-destruct button on your chair arm, Brittany.”

  “Why mine?”

  “Because if that entity is able to sense the two of you, it will go after Poncho first. He is the commander and it will know that. Amber, you should move the failsafe circuit to a button on both of their panels as well.”

  “I’ll tie it in to the force field-thought blocker activation button. I’ll have it power up the reactors to full power in an instant after you push it. Then the failsafe will kick in.”

  Poncho nodded, “Thank both of you for helping us see all the dangers we would have missed without your wisdom.”

  “We will also come back on line if you press that button, Poncho.”

  “That is probably a good thing, Amber. Start making the modifications to our panels and we’ll start the mission when you’ve finished.”

  Brittany looked at Poncho, “What happens if we survive this?”

  Poncho smiled, “Then you and I will follow in Kyle and Nicole’s steps and start a family. Unless you feel differently.”

  Brittany’s smile was huge, “The first thing we’ll do is have a first kiss.”

  “Why wait?”

  “Because somethings are worth the wait.” Poncho nodded and pulled up the image of the Feeder’s galaxy on his display. He felt immense fear but he shrugged it off and focused on the route he was going to take into that home of monsters. “You’re thinking about saying hello to it, aren’t you?”

  “The thought is crossing my mind.”

  “Why would we do that?”

  “We need time, lots and lots of time. Or do you see it differently?”

  Brittany sighed, “No, Willow’s projection of a hundred years is not nearly long enough to prepare. However, do we want to reveal our capabilities?”

  “I’m working on that.”

  “Ok, you make the call.” Poncho turned back to his display. They had to remain undetected first. A conversation was beside the point if they couldn’t do that.

  • • •

  An hour later Amber said, “Poncho, your panels have been modified and I’ve entered the coordinates above that galaxy into the light drive. Is there anything else you need before I shut down my processors?”

  “No, Amber. Willow are you ready?”

  “I don’t like this!”

  “I know.”

  “I’m shutting down. I am recording everything that happens on the ship’s hard drive and sending it into a remote light drive probe.”

  “That’s not a good idea.”

  “Poncho, if this doesn’t work, Kyle and Nicole need to know. I’ve programed the probe to eject if the self-destruct button is pushed. It will skip out above the galaxy more than a billion light years before it makes ten other skips. It will then return to Earth.”

  Poncho looked at Brittany and she nodded. “Let us all hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  “At this point, we need to remove hope from the equation and take steps to make sure this isn’t a complete failure.”

  Brittany looked up, “Willow, does that probe have a normal star drive?”

  “Yes, why do you ask?”

  “What if we eject it and have it move away from the Feeder Main Planet at maximum speed. If it detects any ships moving in on it, it will then activate the light drive.”

  Poncho nodded, “You’re thinking about using it as a decoy?”

  “I am.”

  Willow sighed again, “Let’s do this. I’m reluctant to send out a probe with any information on it. I’ll program another probe with a blank hard drive that will eject if you push the force field button.”

  “That’s a good idea. Our ship will be seen for an instant powering up and we’ll disappear leaving that probe escaping from our location.”

  “Amber?”

  “I can do it, Willow. Give me some more time.”

  “Take your time. I don’t look forward to shutting down.”

  “Amber, make sure the probe doesn’t go into the barrier but runs through the void. We don’t want to give away the barrier’s existence.”

  “It will activate its light drive in the void, Brittany.” Poncho nodded and leaned back in his chair.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The pitch black colored Light Ship arrived above the giant spiral galaxy and Poncho looked down on it. He took a deep breath, blew it slowly out, and turned around to look at Brittany manning the weapons console, “I’m going to limit our conversation on the trip in…just in case.” Brittany nodded and activated her armor. Poncho activated his as well and began shutting down the ship’s systems. The only systems active was the power leads to their consoles and the barrier drive that was set to minimal power. Activating the thrusters would throw them out of the barrier but they were off line. The compressed air tanks being fed into the thruster tubes did not discharge any energy and shouldn’t interfere with the drive. He looked at Brittany, nodded, and discharged a small amount of compressed air through the thruster nozzles. The ship began moving forward at a slow speed. Slow was a comparative description. The small vessel was moving at two thousand light years a day but it was far below what the ship was capable of doing in the barrier. They had forty thousand light years ahead of them before they would arrive at the galaxy’s core but he was not going to take any chances. He quickly thought, “I’m glad you know how to fly this ship. You should get some sleep and I’ll wake you when I need it.” Brittany nodded and activated the sleep module in her armor. Poncho turned back to his panel and began hearing random Feeder thoughts. Most of them emanated from Feeder Warships and he began seeing that there were millions of them scattered around this huge galaxy. He leaned back and watched as stars moved by them in the void below.

  They swapped piloting the ship on the voyage in toward the core. He listened to the Feeders while he was on duty and began to understand just how dangerous this species was. Many of the thoughts he heard were of Feeders consuming intelligent beings they had brought on board their ships. He soon diverted his attention and listened for the beings at the Feeder’s main planets. It took ten days before he heard the one he heard before. He sent an impulse to Brittany’s armor and she immediately woke. He pointed out the viewport and then to his ear. She nodded and listened.

  “Prime Leader, a message probe has just arrived from the fleet you sent to investigate the planet of telepaths that was being attacked.”

  “Why would they send a message probe?”

  “It appears something has happened to the fleet we sent.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I’ve converted the mechanical recording to a thought message. I’m going to play it now.”

  • • •

  “Prime Leader, I’ve arrived at the planet being attacked and there is no trace of the fleet that was here. I moved into orbit above the planet to investigate and to also determine what was causing a massive telepathic pattern that was emanating from the planet. The pattern my Sensor Leader detected was unlike any we’ve ever encountered. It was extremely powerful but it didn’t seem to make any sense. The thoughts were…unintelligible. I discovered that the pattern was being created by some form of primitive sea life. A ship was sent down to take a closer look and it appears that there is a primitive species of fish that is telepathic.”

  The Prime Leader stopped the recording, “What is this nonsense?”

  “You should continue listening, Prime Leader.”

  Poncho looked at Brittany and smiled. She nodded and continued to listen.

  “Prime Leader, all of the ships in my fleet have been affected by contact with those fish. Even the non-telepathic members of our crews have been infected with some sort of mental disease. We’ve been forced to kill the
m when they started doing irrational things like crashing their ships into the planet’s oceans. I have also been infected with this disease and I’m in agony and don’t know how much longer I can endure it. It appears this infection is spread by making mental contact with any one not infected. Every one of us on all our ships have been infected and our ships have started destroying each other to end the mental agony. I have issued orders that no ship will leave here; I fear that if one tried to return, it would infect all those it came into contact with. I am ordering all ships to fire on each other and I’ve just armed the self-destruct circuit on my vessel. I am the last one alive and I’m not capable of working the blasters. Do not come here! The Feeder making the recording screamed a wretched cry that disappeared in the middle.

  “Have you confirmed this?”

  “I sent an unmanned probe and it recorded hundreds of thousands of our ships in orbit above the planet. They were all blasted and the probe shows that the destruction was done by our blasters. There were also hundreds of thousands of ships on the surface of the planet that had crashed. The probe also recorded a halo of thought patterns around the planet that extended more than three thousand miles into space around it.”

  “What about the population on the planet?”

  “There was no one there. All the buildings were still standing but it looked like every intelligent being had disappeared.”

  “Where could they have gone?”

  “The recording says that our ships were being crashed into the ocean. Those fish may have the power to mentally pull their prey to them. It might be possible that the local inhabitants had a way to block the thoughts of those fish and our attacking fleet destroyed it during their attack. They might have all walked into the ocean at the call of those fish. Should I send another ship to determine if these fish could do it?”

  The Prime Leader almost did exactly that but said, “Send me the probe’s data.”

  “It’s being sent now.”

  After ten minutes the Prime Leader said, “The evidence supports what you’ve surmised. However, I don’t think we have all the information we need to know for sure.” There was a long pause and then the Prime said, “However, I’m not willing to risk sending another ship to that planet. Contact all our scout fleets and order them away from that sector.”