by Saxon Andrew
“WHAT?!”
“Dela, it’s the only way to make them attack with all their forces.”
“But…”
“I’ve done an analysis and our plan works better if they’re able to destroy our vessel.”
Jimmy looked at Lola and saw her close her eyes as she nodded. He realized she agreed with Grang. She thought to Jimmy, “I’ve sensed the same thing. I don’t want to do this before we have a family but Grang is right. It’s our responsibility to make them attack our universe.”
Her thoughts were interrupted by Kogo, “That’s not going to happen.”
“But, Kogo! They won’t commit all their forces if they believe they can’t win.”
“That has nothing to do with why we won’t do it, Grang.”
The bridge was silent and Jimmy asked, “Then what does have something to do with it?”
“I’m hearing a thought that the crew on this ship is too important in what’s coming. We’ll try something else.”
“What?”
“Grang, can’t you simulate an explosion just outside our force field?”
“I guess I could explode a penetrator.”
“Next time they manage to hit our force field, explode a penetrator and release some fuel into the explosion. At that moment, jump into our universe leaving a gas trail behind us.”
“I guess I can make that happen.”
“Why do you say the crew is more important in what’s coming?” Lola inquired. “Don’t get me wrong, I really, really don’t want to die but I don’t understand what you mean.”
Kogo sighed, “I’m not sure what it means. I sense that someone among us is going to play a critical role in what’s coming. The thoughts I’m receiving are adamant that we will not sacrifice the ship. Grang, it’s time to go home. Whatever you can do to make it appear you’ve been damaged, needs to be done now.”
“I thought we have another day.”
“The voice in my head says we don’t. Do it now!”
“Strap in. I’m going to continue to feed fuel into the penetrator’s blast as we run on our main-engines. I’ll stop it when we jump into our universe. I’m going to push the penetrator out with air-thrusters and move until it’s just outside our force field. I think this subterfuge will work better if one of their blasters explodes it.”
Dela chuckled, “I’ve always felt you were a genius, Grang. This confirms it. That’s an outstanding plan.”
“Thank you, Dela. Hold on.”
• • •
The penetrator ejected from its launch tube and the giant Psychic Ship moved slowly away as blaster beams began hitting the Grang’s force field. The penetrator moved outside the force field and was hit by one of the Black ship’s blaster beams. It went up in a huge explosion and Grang fed raw fuel into the explosion as he moved slowly away. The explosion grew larger as Grang deliberately made the force field flicker. The ship picked up speed as the blast followed it and after a short run, the Grang jumped out on its Universal Drive.
Kogo laughed, “You big ham! Flickering the force field was an excellent touch.”
“Where do we go from here?”
“Start moving toward the sector of our universe where those Dark Energy Creatures are located.”
“Kogo, we’ve been given direct orders not to get anywhere near those creatures!”
“I know, Grang. But we need to get the Black Warships in the same neighborhood so they can greet each other. We’ll jump out on the dimensional drive before we get too close to those creatures.”
“What about if I explode ten-penetrators just before I jump.”
“Great idea but you need to make sure they’re following us.”
“I’ll be running just fast enough to stay ahead of them.”
“Grang.”
“Yes, Dela.”
“You should push our Primes out of the landing bay along with all of your shuttles into the middle of the Penetrators.” Kogo jerked his head around to Dela and she said, “I love my Prime, too, Kogo. We can get another when we get back.” Kogo sighed and nodded. “Can you do it, Grang.”
“That is a great idea, Dela. If there isn’t any debris, they might be suspicious. I’ll send them out by decompressing the landing bay and send the penetrators into them after they’re clear.”
“You should also raise the masking field the moment you cause the explosion.”
“Great idea, Lola. The Black Ships have now entered our universe. They’re holding position now and I see many of them are leaving.”
“They’re going to tell their leaders about the abundance of intelligent civilizations here.”
“I think you’re right, Dela. They are now starting to pursue us. I see about ten-thousand Black Ships giving chase.”
“Stay ahead of them, Grang!”
“I will, Kogo.”
• • •
It took a week before the Primes and shuttles were exploded. The Grang jumped into the Dark Dimension and just before they left, Grang announced, “There are millions of Black Warships entering our universe. It appears their invasion has begun in earnest.”
“I hope we’re doing the right thing.”
“We all do, Jimmy,” Dela replied as the Grang jumped away.
• • •
Thele looked at Curan and said, “I don’t care what the public thinks about the idea. You will have enough engineers to go and make it happen!”
“But to remove Castle Gardner’s defenses to the Assembly Building will require tearing down much of the Castle’s structure.”
“I don’t care if you level it! Get those defenses moved here now!” Thele ordered.
“I suspect that there will be a revolt if we do that. You know how much the Castle means to the citizens of Ross.”
“Call up enough Red Warriors to keep them out!! Now get moving!”
Curan nodded and walked out of Thele’s office. He contacted Merele and heard, “You couldn’t talk him out of it?”
“No.”
“I’m boarding my ship and leaving as soon as the riots begin.”
“I’ll be right behind you. I don’t think Thele will leave. He’s too much in love with power.”
“Then he can handle this alone. Where are you going?” Merele inquired.
“My first chosen location was removed when the Gardner’s moved Earth’s Solar System. I was going to go to the holding facility on Ganymede that was built to house the Cainth Captives when they invaded thousands of years ago. That is no longer an option.”
“So where are you going?”
“The Glod’s Main Planet has a cavern in the largest moon. It was originally put there to house defenses above the planet.”
“What if it’s no longer operational?”
“I sent some engineers there six-months ago and I’ve been notified that it’s now operational.”
“Do you mind if I share the space with you?”
“You will need to bring enough food with you to last us ten years.”
“You didn’t send food?”
“Merele, I sent enough for thirty-years but moving more than that would have caused questions I wanted to avoid. We can never have enough.”
“I’ll get moving on it.”
“Good. I’ll be there; I’m leaving today.”
Curan saw his communicator go dark and he contacted his oldest son. He began issuing orders and then ended the call. He shook his head and contacted the Chief Engineer; he refused to do what Curan was demanding but threatening his wife and children with execution made him change his mind. The same threat had to be used on all the contractors sent to tear down the Castle. It was not a good time to be on Ross.
• • •
The Black Warships poured into the new universe and were amazed at the abundance of life. This was far beyond anything they’d ever witnessed. They began spreading out and it didn’t take very long before they found the Star’s Realm.
• • •
Eyes watch
ed the Black Ships spreading out and felt a sense of dread; so many worlds were going to die. One of the Watchers yelled, “Some Black Ships are moving toward our star!!”
“Spread out and don’t use your telepathy!” Eyes warned.
“I can hear them wondering how a single star could exist outside a galaxy. I don’t know if acting stupid will stop them from attacking!”
Eyes listened to the Commander of the fifty-warships and saw the Watcher was right. Even-though they detected no intelligent life, they were going to attack the planet anyway. The Black Squadron Commander was wise and intelligent. He knew this couldn’t have happened naturally. He suspected something was being hidden from their scanners.”
“Sire! They’re powering up their blasters.”
Eyes knew there wasn’t enough time to put on their space armor and teleport out. He should have left when Danielle suggested two-months ago. He stared at the Black Ships in orbit and suddenly saw all fifty exploded into massive fireballs. He collapsed to the ground as he heard Sprigly ask, “Now are you ready to leave?”
“You have no idea how happy I am to hear you.”
“We’ve already set up the dimension drive. Danielle sent twenty-Psychic Ships here to make sure you were safe. We’ll be jumping out in thirty-seconds.”
“Make it ten. My watchers see more than a thousand-Black Warships teleporting this way.”
“Ten it is.” El Prado along with its Planetary System disappeared just before the Black Ships arrived. The confusion the disappearance caused among the Black Ship’s Leadership was worth witnessing, but the Cats weren’t there to see it.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Tag, the Grang has just arrived in our universe and is currently being pursued by the Black Ships.”
“How do you know that, Newton?”
“Sprigly has moved El Prado back to the Bristone Galaxy and Eyes told him the Grang was being pursued just as he was brought back.”
“Get Sprigly and Eyes to come to the Defense Facility.”
“Will do.”
“We need to get moving, Tag.”
“Just a moment, Danielle. We can’t go until the Black Civilization’s main forces arrive.”
“Tag, if we delay…”
“I know, the loss of life will be huge and I hate there’s nothing we can do to avoid it but we have to do it later. Look at going now or waiting and tell me what you sense.”
Danielle closed her eyes and started shaking her head, “I hate this!!”
“We have no choice. We’ll leave after the Grang arrives.”
Danielle closed her eyes and Tag took her hands, “There’s no preventing it, my Love. We can only try to reduce the losses; we won’t be able to prevent them.” Danielle lowered her head and felt sorrow at what was coming. She left the landing bay and Tag turned off his telepathy module. He walked across the bay and said into his wrist communicator to prevent anyone hearing him, “Newton, keep this conversation private.”
“Tag, I don’t like this.”
“I don’t either but it has to be done. Where are you on the schedule I gave you?”
“We’re going to complete the process in twenty-hours. I wish you’d reconsider this.”
“Just get it done, my friend.” Newton went up and down on his eight-legs and went back to work. “By the way, Newton, Sprigly is back and he can help you.”
“That’ll make a huge difference.”
“Don’t tell him what’s going on.”
“I’ll do what I can. He’s an Algean telepath.”
“And you’re a Spider telepath. You can do it and prevent him seeing what’s going on.”
“I’ll do what I can, Tag.”
“I’m counting on you, Newton. I’ll try to keep him distracted.”
“Thanks.”
Tag turned his telepathy module back on and forced himself to avoid thinking about what he planned.
• • •
Sprigly and Eyes arrived in the Defense Facility and the Gardners met them in the conference room just off the main landing bay. Tag looked at Sprigly, “Did you get the probes and communication center launched?”
“I did that before I went to El Prado. I’ve checked the system out and it works.”
“I want you to check and see if any message slivers have come in and let us know what’s happening in and around the Realm. I also need you to check with Newton and see if you can assist him in developing the weapons on a Prime.”
“A Prime?”
“Yes, Sprigly. They represent the bulk of our warships. We must start their development now.”
“I’ll check on the slivers first.”
“That would be good. You might want to assign Seedel to track the information the slivers are delivering and keep you updated.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll get back to you.”
Danielle’s eyebrows went up, “What are you doing with the Prime?”
“We can’t wait until the last minute to see if we can make them capable of confronting those creatures.” He immediately turned to Eyes, “What were you able to determine before we moved you back here?”
Danielle started to ask more questions about the Prime but Eyes interrupted her train of thought, “I was able to hear the thoughts of the Black Warships when they arrived.”
Danielle’s eyes widened as she turned to him, “What did you hear?”
“They were amazed at the life in our universe. They immediately sent back ships to inform their leadership of what they’ve found. Their excitement and anticipation was easily felt. They will be moving all of their forces here as quickly as possible.” Danielle looked at Tag to suggest they leave but Eyes’ next comment stopped her, “It appears that they have a lot more ships than you saw in the universe they were attacking.”
“WHAT?”
“Danielle, I heard one of their Fleet Commanders say that they may require their other forces come and join them. I believe that they had at least one unit, and maybe more, invading another universe.”
“That’s horrible!!”
“I know. We need to find out from the probes what’s happening. We can’t see them now that we’ve been moved here.”
Tag sighed, “Maybe we can send some Psychic Ships into our universe for a moment so your Watchers can see what’s happening, Eyes”
“It would have to be done quickly. They’ll see us if we stay for any length of time.”
“I believe the masking field would keep you hidden long enough to get a good look.” Tag then turned to Danielle, “Why don’t you go to the communication center and see what our probes have uncovered. Eyes and I will talk with Newton about moving Psychic Ships.”
Danielle nodded and hugged Tag’s neck, “I’ll let you know.” Tag smiled and watched her leave the conference room.
“She is going to rip you a new backside when she finds out what you’re planning,” Eyes said with a smirk.
Tag’s head went back as he looked at Eyes, “How do you know about that?”
“Remember, we can see Creation Forces and, though your thoughts are hidden from her, I can still see them.”
“Do you think I’m wrong?”
“No. I can see why you’re going to do it but she will not go along with it.”
“She won’t really have a choice.”
“Do you really know your wife?”
“Yes. Her heart is the biggest thing in her.”
“You better hope so. I’m glad it’s you that has to tell her.”
“You will be there to help me, Eyes.”
“I was hoping I’d be absent for that meeting.”
“No, I’ll need all the help I can get.”
“It might not be enough.”
Tag shrugged, “Keep this to yourself, Eyes. You and Newton are the only ones that know about it.”
Eyes growled and began pacing the conference room. Tag was headed into a lot of trouble. But Tag really had no choice.
• • •
> Danielle was troubled by something that she couldn’t quite wrap her mind around as she arrived in the Communication Center and found Seedel going over the information that had been delivered by the probes. “Hello, Danielle.”
She put the issue aside and asked, “Have you received any information?”
“I have. The main forces of the Black Ships have not started arriving yet. Their initial forces have locked in on the Grang and are pursuing it.”
“How does this system work. I thought we couldn’t receive anything from our universe in this dimension?”
“We have a large communication probe hidden by a masking field in a vast open space between galaxies. It is not using any power that can be detected. There is a dimensional device inside it that will send any sliver that arrives directly to this center and then it will power down the drive.”
“What is a sliver, Seedel?”
“It’s a communication device the size of a sewing needle. It has micro-circuitry that will teleport it directly to the communication probe, where it will move into a receiving tube. The tube will shuttle it to the dimension drive and it will then arrive in our Dark Dimension. It will then use its last teleportation power to arrive in this center.”
“Who built this system?”
“Actually, Sprigly went back to the last Civilization you and Tag defended and they built it.”
Danielle smiled, “The Hallan are the best in the universe at miniaturization.”
Seedel nodded, “We couldn’t have built it. It’s a shame they’re in such danger.”
Danielle’s eyes narrowed and she knew this had to be what was bothering her. She couldn’t allow the Hallan to be destroyed, “They’re located far away from the Realm and the space the Threat is in.”
“Even so.”
“I’m going to have Sprigly and Newton move their planets here if it appears they’re in jeopardy.”
“We can use their help. Let me show you what I’ve gathered.” Danielle sat back and stared at the large monitor. She realized this was the end of the beginning and the fall into darkness was beginning. She focused on the monitor but still felt a nagging worry.
• • •
“Grang, how many are in pursuit now?!” Kogo asked.
“Black Warships are now pouring into our universe and more than a hundred-thousand are now joining in the chase, Kogo.”