“Bloodline?”
“You are a blood descendent of the wearer. It explains the gemstones. They will not hold their alignment for any others. Where is this great-great-grandfather of yours now, Amanda Williamson?”
She gave the giant a peculiar stare. “Not to be rude,” she said, “but if he was my great-great-grandfather over a hundred years ago, where do you think he would be?”
Her answer caught him off guard. “How would I know where he would be? That is why I am asking you. I have no time for puzzles.”
“He’s dead, Supreme Commander. We’re talking over one hundred and twenty years ago. He was eighty-nine then.”
“So. That would make him only two hundred and nine. Was he killed in battle?”
She dared to laugh at his question. “Supreme Commander,” she said, “our people only have a life span of eighty to a hundred years.”
“A hundred years?!” he said. “Our pets live longer than that. Then I fear we have little to talk about. All that could have been helpful to us would have perished with your ancestor. This is not good news for your species, Amanda Williamson.”
“Not necessarily, Supreme Commander. Inside the amulet there were information chips. I am sure my great-great-grandfather would not have put them in there unless there was useful information on them.”
“What sort of . . . information chips, as you call them? Do you eat them to gain these insights?”
“They store information. Recordings. Our people are trying to read them now. They were inside the amulet. But we’re having trouble reading them.”
“If you value your people, we must know what is on these . . . information chips.”
“Supreme Commander, if I could get to Earth with them, I could open them. We have the equipment there.”
“Ha! Your leaders would never allow this. They undoubtedly plot my demise as we speak. I cannot trust them. Even your good intentions will be consumed by their hatred. I thereby decline your request.”
“Supreme Commander, the captain of the ship I came from, he cares very much about me. If he knew I was going to Earth, he would cease fire. I know it.”
“He cares about you, you say? Enough to stop an army?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Then you can be useful to me in another way. Very useful.”
“That’s great,” she said. “Tell me what it is.”
“You will be my last bargaining piece, Amanda Williamson. I will demand that your people cease attacking us and give us the answers I seek, or we will execute you.”
“Execute me?! Can’t you see that I’m trying to bring about a peaceful resolution? They can’t read the chips without going to Earth. That’s where you’ll get your answers. I was hoping your kind might have a bit more common sense than ours and work with us. You’re proving me wrong with your actions.”
“Silence! If you were an Altarran and spoke like that to me, I’d have you beheaded.” He looked toward the door. “Guard! Take her away!”
Just as the guard entered the door, a high piercing sound went off, followed by a message.
“Supreme Commander,” said the disembodied voice, “our scanning system has detected twelve Earth vessels heading our way. They will be in range in two minutes.”
“Battle stations. All ships arm weapons and prepare for combat. Do not, I repeat, do not fire weapons unless fired upon first.”
The reply was immediate. “Message received and understood, Supreme Commander.”
Granthaxe called his guard over and gestured at Amanda. “Bring her with me to the battle bridge.”
He glanced down at the little red-haired human. “Perhaps when we show your comrades that you are still alive, it will give us some leverage.”
“I thought your amulet said I could be trusted,” she said.
“Yes, and it also said your leaders could not.”
Granthaxe left his quarters with his guard and Amanda at his side. This could very well be his final battle. If so, he would see to it that it would be a memorable one, worthy of the Prince of Altarra—a battle to the death.
Chapter 43
Final Stand
Ryan approached Tanner at the weapons console. “Did you contact the weapons officers on the rest of the ships?” he asked.
“Sure did, Ry. Every one of them have my children locked and loaded in their torpedo launchers. Did you let the rest of the captains in on our dirty little secret?”
“They know. And not one of them had an issue with it.”
Jill looked at the two of them. “Well I have an issue,” she said. “Do you know what kind of collateral damage this could do? I can’t believe I’m actually going to be part of this . . . this . . . bravado stupidity. Two hundred and seventeen years since nuclear weapons have been used, and I have to be involved with the schmucks that actually want to use them again.”
“What did she call us?” said Tanner.
“This is a last resort only,” said Ryan. “Trust me, if I have any other choice, I’ll take it. Do you think I’ll risk losing Amanda? You just make sure that all ships acknowledge that nobody fires their weapons without my orders.”
“I’m holding you to that,” said Jill. “Sending message now . . . sir.”
Ryan sat back and waited for the rest of the fleet to check in. They had less than fifteen minutes before they would come face to face with the Altarrans. He was hoping they’d be able to arrive at some sort of peaceful resolution. They’d have to if there was any chance of sparing Amanda. That is, if she wasn’t already dead.
Paul called from engineering. “Ryan, I’m still trying to figure out how to open those microchips. It looks like one of them isn’t really a chip. It’s a little bigger than the other one and feels heavier. I think there’s something inside it. I’m going to open it up and see what it is.”
“Interesting. Any ideas what it might be?”
“I’m hoping it’s a microfilm. If it is, I can probably blow up the pictures using the radiology systems in the infirmary.”
“Great idea. Stay on it, Paul. We’re running out of time—and options. This info is probably our last shot.”
“Tell me about it,” said Paul. “These engines are on their last legs. Once we shut them down, that’s it. All we’ll have left are thrusters.”
“Captain,” said Jill. “All ships have responded. They understand that nobody is to fire weapons until we do.”
“Great. Nicole, how much longer until we reach Earth?”
“Two minutes.”
Ryan sat up in his chair. “Jill, call all hands to battle stations.”
Jill hit the automated system. Alarms sounded throughout the ship.
Nicole called to Ryan, “Preparing to cut engines and fire braking thrusters.”
“This is it,” said Ryan. “Shut down the engines. Engage braking thrusters.”
The UEDF Churchill slowed down. The sounds of the engines sputtering, along with the groaning of the ship’s hull, made Ryan wonder if the ship was about to burst apart at the seams. By the looks of everyone on the bridge, they were feeling the same. He was hoping the ship would hold together long enough to finish their mission.
“Open a channel to the Altarrans,” said Ryan. He could see the Altarran fleet in clear view on the monitors.
“Channel open,” said Jill.
Ryan cleared his throat. “Supreme Commander Granthaxe, this is Captain Ryan Thompson of the United Earth Defense Fleet. It is my understanding that one of my officers is on your ship.”
It didn’t take long before the static subsided and the booming voice came through.
“Yes, Captain Thompson. I have your Amanda Williamson. She is in healthy condition and under our guard.”
“Supreme Commander, I am asking that you surrender. If you release Amanda and surrender, I will allow your fleet to leave Earth and return to your planet.”
“Captain Ryan Thompson, it has come to my attention that you have something of mine as well. Re
lease it to me and we may talk of what will come next.”
“And what is it that you think I have?”
“Information. It is in your information chip. If you think we have come this far only to retreat without learning the truth about our envoys, you are greatly mistaken. And so, this is my ultimatum to you. Find my missing envoys, or I will order my ships to fight to the death. If you want your Amanda Williamson, this is my offer.”
Ryan looked around at his crew. Tanner had his hand on the firing mechanism just in case. Ryan turned his attention back to the Altarrans. “Supreme Commander, I believe that your people did visit our planet, but we have no knowledge of it happening. Plus it occurred well over one hundred and twenty-five years ago. There isn’t a human being alive from that time period. Even if we could find out what happened, there’s no one to talk to. And your envoys would have been long gone by now, too.”
“What would you know about our envoys?! Our life spans more than three hundred years, so unless your ancestors killed them, our envoys are still alive. I warn you Captain Ryan Thompson, we will not leave here without answers.”
Still alive? Ryan thought about the implications of that. He wasn’t sure which would have been worse; having them still alive on Earth or finding out the government tortured them. He thought he’d try another tack.
“Supreme Commander,” he said, “I acknowledge that your envoys may be alive, or something may have happened to them in the past. And I promise I’ll do what I can to help find out. But to wage intergalactic war over a few missing envoys would seem foolish for both sides. Thousands have died already. Isn’t that enough?”
“Enough?! Billions upon billions are not worth these four! I would destroy entire planets for them, because our queen, Captain Ryan Thompson—my mother—is among them!”
“Your mother? I’m sorry, I—”
“What would an insensitive species like yours know of sorrow? I am doubly bound as an Altarran and as her offspring to either save her . . . or avenge her. And I will not leave here until one or the other takes place.”
“Supreme Commander, it’s obvious—”
“The only thing obvious is your ignorance. If it is a fight you want, then by the gods of the ancient ones, a fight you shall have. Stand ready. By my count, we outnumber you twenty-three ships to twelve. If you think your weapons superior, then come face us now. Amanda Williamson shall perish, but what is one person compared with thousands?”
Ryan couldn’t believe it. The queen was the commander’s mother. His mind was racing. All this time, in talking with Granthaxe he was looking at his mirror image. Is this what it was to be? An eye for an eye? A tooth for a tooth? And soon they would all be blind and toothless? Amanda had always used that Gandhi saying to drive her point home, but this was the first time it had really sunk in. Ryan stumbled back into his chair. His body and mind were numb. There was dead silence on the bridge. All eyes were focused on him.
Rawlings turned to Ryan. “Captain, sensors are picking up nine ships. It’s the remainder of the fleet.”
“Of what fleet?” said Ryan.
“The United Earth Defense Fleet,” said Jill. “Your father’s fleet. I have audio. Putting it on speakers now.”
“This is Fleet Admiral Ben Thompson ordering you to surrender immediately, Granthaxe. The numbers are just about even now. And we all have the ability to disable your shields now. You have five seconds to stand down or be destroyed.”
Suddenly, the doors to the bridge opened. Ryan turned to see Paul running towards him gasping for air. “Ryan! Hold your fire. I have proof . . . the missing Altarrans—”
Ryan jumped up. “Jill, patch me through to my father.”
Jill nodded. “You’re on.”
“Dad! It’s Ryan. Stand Down. I repeat, STAND DOWN!”
Just then, Ryan could see on the monitors the Altarran ships getting into position to fire.
Chapter 44
Search For The Truth
Ryan waited for his father to respond. It probably took only a couple of seconds, but it seemed like an eternity before he heard his father’s voice.
“Ryan? What the hell are you doing out here? Where’s Admiral Williamson?”
“It’s a long story, sir. Hold one sec.”
From the view on the monitors, it appeared that the Altarrans were about to fire.
“Jill, patch me through to Granthaxe, quick.”
“You’re on.”
“Supreme Commander, hold your fire.”
Without waiting for a response, he had Jill patch him back.
“Ryan, what’s going on?” said his father.
“Now is not the time to talk about it, Dad. I need you to trust me.”
“Who’s in command of your fleet if Admiral Williamson’s not with you?”
“I am. Listen. I need a few minutes to talk to the supreme commander. Just have your fleet hold on standby and listen in.”
“Ryan, I don’t know what twist of fate brought you out there, but you’re an eighteen-year-old cadet in over your head, and you’re giving orders to a Fleet Admiral. Let me take it from here, son.”
Ryan felt his face turning red, but he knew now wasn’t the time to get into a war of words with his father. He took a deep breath and continued to make his case.
“Dad, I know you’re the fleet admiral but it’s been Amanda, me, and the rest of the senior cadet class risking our necks out here. We’ve lost three ships. Two complete cadet crews dead, and one ship with some survivors out there somewhere, but we may be close to a deal with them. Now, I’m asking you—begging you—as my commander, but more important as my father, to have some faith in me, this one time. How about it, sir?”
There was silence—nothing but dead air and static for at least ten or twenty seconds. Ryan glanced at the monitor and wondered how long the Altarrans would hold off. He could see beads of sweat pouring down Tanner’s face. Jill looked grimly determined, and Nicole’s hands were shaking. Something had to give, and it had to be soon.
Finally, he heard a noise on the other line that indicated his father was back.
“Fair enough, son,” said the admiral, in a subdued voice. “You want some time? I’ll give you five minutes. You’ve certainly earned that much. After that, I call the shots. Are we clear on that, Captain Thompson?”
“Fair enough, Dad.” Ryan had to admit it felt oddly gratifying to have his father call him Captain.
Ryan looked at Jill. “Get the supreme commander back on the com. And make sure my father is patched into the line in listen mode. I need him to hear everything.”
He looked at Paul. “Show me what you have. Then I want a copy of these pictures forwarded to the Fleet Admiral.”
Paul handed him a collection of still photos. He examined them, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. American government officials were standing around with a few of the largest upright-walking creatures he’d ever seen. They were at least twice the height of any human. It was hard to tell from the photos, but they looked hairy, like giant beasts, only they carried themselves more like people. He couldn’t see their faces. But a military officer who looked a hell of a lot like someone in a photo in Amanda’s living room was leading one of them onto a large military helicopter. “What the—”
“Switching frequency now, Captain,” said Jill, bringing him back to reality. “I also have your father’s channel piggybacked so he can hear everything. You’re on.”
Ryan took a deep breath. This was it.
“Supreme Commander,” he said, “I have some very important information for you. Information about your mother.”
Ryan waited, as the seconds ticked by. Come on, you thick-skulled ogre. Answer me already.
“Speak to me then,” said Granthaxe. “And bring me no tricks, as my patience has already worn thin. It is strange, is it not, that you wait until the moment before battle to find the information I ask? By my word, nothing brings success like the final seconds of a festering tempest.”<
br />
“Who the hell taught him English,” said Tanner from the weapons console, “William Shakespeare?”
Ryan shot Tanner a look, then returned his attention to Granthaxe. “I have proof, Supreme Commander. Pictures that prove Amanda’s family helped your people escape from captivity. Her ancestor must have hid them somewhere to keep them safe.”
“Somewhere? The Earth is full of somewheres. You’ve proven nothing but what I already know—that my envoys were captured. I need to know where they are.”
“It’s not that easy. But I have an idea. If you and Amanda can come to my ship, I’ll show you the pictures. Maybe you’ll spot something we didn’t. We could call a truce and work together to find them. You want your envoys back, and we want to save our planet. We both want the same thing, Supreme Commander.”
“You offer me nothing! Tell me, Ryan Thompson of Earth, why, after all that has transpired on your planet, and against the everlasting truth of our gemstones not to trust your kind, should I abandon all I stand for to submit to such an offer? For if I do, what kind of fool am I?!”
“Did he really just say that?” said Tanner.
“Do you think we’re so different?” said Ryan, ignoring Tanner. “We’ve both been fools. I didn’t want Amanda to come to you. But she did anyway, while I was unconscious from an injury. All she wanted was to stop the needless killing. I mean, haven’t enough of your people and my people died already? We’ve both made the same mistakes, Commander.”
“The very first one of which was when you captured our envoys. And so it shall be your last. You speak well, but the time for negotiation is long past, and your sentiment mere words. Your ancestors—”
“I’m not talking about my ancestors, Commander. I’m talking about you and me. Please hear me out. I also lost my mother. She was killed by an evil man, right in front of me. And my anger was just like yours. I was mad at everyone. I blamed my own father, because he wasn’t there. I watched her die right in front of my eyes. They wouldn’t let me save her, Commander. They wouldn’t let me save her. But maybe we can still save yours. I want to help you do that. Please, let me help you do that. Think about it. There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
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