The Warleader has agreed to do so if we provide him with enough support.”
‘We thought you were going to use the Glod to lead the fleet.”
“That was our plan, but they contributed more than 600 ships to the initial attack and all their ships were destroyed. They have requested half a stellar rotation to complete the religious ceremonies for their lost personnel. I also understand that they have sent half their remaining ships to protect the Cainth who lost all their ships. Quite frankly, they have too much going on to provide much help. I asked them about it after the battle and they rightly pointed out that there are more than 500 members that have not contributed any ships.”
There was more discussion among the ten and then they said, “We accept the Vgrig to lead the next battle, however we don’t agree to 8000 ships.” The Warleader stood up and started to protest but then the council said, “We will send the rest of our initial reserve of 17,000 ships. We will not make the mistake of underestimating these humans again.”
Stein, Dgzh, and the Warleader were all stunned by what was being done. “Did I hear you correctly excellently; 17,000 warships?”
“The authorization is on your console. Find a way to get thru that planetary screen and destroy every living thing on that planet. Start with their fleet.”
“Yes council members. We will do as you order.”
The Warleader thought, “Over 17,000 ships to get my vengeance;” but a small voice in the back of his mind said, “By the creator, I hope it’s enough.”
Chapter 7
Tag and Danielle were sitting at a table with the people that made the critical decisions about the survival of the Human race. The Director, the Central Command Staff, and the Special Forces Team had just entered the room and were saying hello while they waited for the Director to call the Meeting to order. Danielle leaned over and said quietly to Tag, “I want some quiet time after this meeting; so don’t get tied up with anything.”
Tag looked at his wife and she could see his love but then he said, “I have to talk with Kosiev after this meeting and because he isn’t going to like what I have to say. I’ll need you there to help me. Then we will take some free time.”
Danielle said, “Ok if you insist.” Then when he looked away and she stuck her tongue out at him.
“Now you know I can sense if someone is looking at me. I saw that,” Tag said laughing.
“I thought you would. I’ll just call Eric and Leila and tell them we can’t make it.”
“Can’t make what, you didn’t tell me you had plans?”
“Yes I did.”
“Let’s hope we don’t get tied up very long.”
“Alright everyone, it’s time to get started,” Director Nicole said. “Take your seats.” Everyone sat down and the room got quiet. “This meeting is only for Humans. Our Cainth brothers will be covered after we discuss our options and decide where we go from here. I think we all know that the next Alliance response will be considerably larger and we should decide how we are going to handle it. Admiral Kosiev, do you have any suggestions.”
Kosiev stood up and said, “I would like to with hold my comments until I hear from Mr. Gardner. He has formulated our strategy to this point and has been remarkably successful if that is ok with you, Madam Director.”
Director Nicole looked at Tag and said, “Mr. Gardner, do you have any ideas?”
Tag stood up and looked around the room and said, “I do but I hope someone has a better suggestion.”
“Go ahead, Mr. Gardner.”
“The time for subterfuge is over but we need to convince the Alliance that we only have the 660 ships that survived the last attack.” Tag looked around the room then said, “And we have to make it look like we’ve lost them attacking the Alliance fleet before it jumps to our system.”
Kosiev stood up and said, “You mean let the Alliance destroy our ships.”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”
“Why? Those are good crews on those ships. Why do they have to lose their life?”
“I know. The crews won’t be in danger; the ships that jump in to attack the Alliance fleet while they are assembling will be remote controlled by one ship that will have their attack patterns programmed in and will implement them as the situation calls for it.”
Kosiev looked at Tag and said, “Its Ross all over again, isn’t it Tag?”
Tag looked at Kosiev and said, “That’s the second time you called me by my name. Yes. I’ll be the one with those ships.”
Danielle jumped up and said, “Oh no you won’t; I’ll not allow it.” Right behind her the whole room started protesting about his decision. He just stood there and listened until the Director called for order.
Director Nicole said, “Why do you have to do it that way?”
Tag said, “I don’t. If anyone has a better idea that would lure the Alliance fleet to our planet, then I’m all ears. After they destroy those 600 hundred ships then they will chase the remainder to the planet to finish the job. As long as they see more than 600, they won’t come in system.”
“Why is it so important for them to come to the planet?” Danielle asked.
Tag looked at her and said, “Because we are going to use all our ships in this battle and we have to limit their room to maneuver. We have to pin them against the planetary defenses and kill them as they try to escape. With more than 10,000 ships, it’s the only way to win and avoid having our ships rammed.”
Kosiev looked at him and nodded begrudgingly and said, “I hate to admit it but you’re probably right. You should take all six hundred ships to attack their fleet and allow some to escape to make it look more realistic.”
“That’s a good idea, Admiral. I think we will do it that way.”
Danielle looked at Admiral Kosiev and said, “Don’t tell me you’re buying into this ridiculous, cockamamie notion?”
“Like he says, Mrs. Gardner, suggest another way.”
Then Kosiev looked at Tag and said, “You do plan to make it back from this attack, don’t you?”
“Absolutely,” Tag answered.
The Director looked around the room and said, “We will close this meeting until tomorrow morning at 9 AM. I want everyone to think about what Tag has suggested and try to think of another way to get the Alliance to come straight at our planet. Meeting adjourned!”
“Well, it looks like we got some free time,” Tag said to Danielle.
“What do you think you’re doing? Are you that incredibly stupid?”
“Atlas, are you listening in?” Tag asked.
“Yes, I think you made a big impression on the proceedings.”
“Atlas, if Danielle and I were in a ship that was totally destroyed, what would happen to us?”
“Well, if you weren’t on a planetary surface, you would probably just float in space unharmed.”
“Please explain to my lovely wife how much danger I, or for that matter, she, would be in a space battle.”
“Atlas gave a mental sigh and said, “Danielle, you and Tag have personal shields that protect you at all times. If the shield senses that you are in a vacuum, it will provide the necessary atmosphere to keep you alive. All you really need if your ship is totally destroyed is another ship to come pick you up.”
“And if a ship isn’t close, just how would you be able to move?” Danielle asked.
“He would just fire the hand weapon to get propulsion. If he kept firing it over a period of several days, he could approach half the speed of light.”
“Danielle, Atlas and I have discussed it and he will be there to pick me up in the event of my ship being destroyed.”
“So, you’re in to this too you overgrown microwave freezer.”
“Does she always get this way?” Atlas asked Tag.
“”You shouldn’t have said that, Atlas.”
Danielle began calling both of them things she was proud she thought of and she called them some things Tag told Atlas he should write down
. Finally she ran down.
“Danielle. You can come with Atlas to make sure I’m ok. This is the best way to save lives; otherwise the Alliance will use their superior numbers to ram our ships. We can avoid a lot of them but at 10,000 plus ships it is going to be too chaotic to keep track of everything. We have to pen them against the planetary defenses and make them come at us from one direction.”
Danielle sat there crying. Atlas thought at Tag and said, “This is where you have to handle it alone. I feel her pain and your resolve. Open your heart to her, Tag.”
Tag sat by Danielle and put his arm around her and just held her. She snuggled into his arms and finally said, “I know you’re right. I’ve lost you once and I don’t ever want to go thru that again; I’d rather die first.”
“Danielle, we didn’t choose our roles in this conflict. I’d still be hiding my talents except for taking Leila’s test. And If I hadn’t taken the test, I would have never met you. There is a role we have to play and we can’t shirk it. If we’re not willing to risk ourselves, then how can we ask all the brave soldiers and naval crews to risk their lives at our instructions?”
“Tag, I’ll not leave your side while this is happening. If it’s safe for you, then it’s safe for me.”
“Daniellllle!”
“That’s the only way I’ll accept it.”
“Atlas, talk to her,” Tag said.
Atlas said, “When the Alliance blows the ship up around you two, make sure you enjoy the moment. It’ll give you an appreciation of what the other ships are going thru.”
Danielle laughed and said, “There, it’s settled.”
“No it’s not.”
Danielle looked at Tag and said, “If I were going to place myself in harm’s way, would you stay away? Answer me honestly that you would and I won’t push it.”
Tag looked at his wife, the love of his life, the one he woke each day to love, and said, “We’ll put a pool table on the ship so I can teach you how to shoot.” Danielle ran up and jumped into his arms and he swung her around and around.
Terl and Admiral Dorg were sitting in the Central Clan Chamber facing a communications screen on the wall where Tgon-Gee was looking at them. He had commed them and asked to speak with them. Dorg said, “It’s good to see you Ambassador.”
Tong-Gee smiled, “We can dispense with the Ambassador from now on. I know that you know who I am. It was a good charade for both of us because it allowed us to save face in the event something embarrassing happened.” Dorg looked at Terl and then nodded to the Crown Prince of the Glod. “You said some things that made me take a hard look at the way my society functions. We are a warrior race that prides ourselves on being strong and aggressive almost to the point of being belligerent. I suspect that if you had not stopped us from taking part in the Alliance invasion then our world would have been attacked after we lost our ships. I must honestly say that I can’t blame them for doing so. There would have been a rush from at least eighteen races to be the first to destroy us and this is because of the way we have dealt with other races. I suspect that none of them would have given us mercy as the Humans showed you. Now I have to look at where we’ve been and also where we’re going. I called a congress of all the tribe leaders and asked them to predict what our future holds if we continue our morays and customs. I then told them about what happened between you and the Humans. I asked each of them what would have happened if we had lost 90% of our ships. They didn’t come to it immediately but finally they saw that we would be destroyed by those we have wronged over the years. It took some discussion to finally get them to see that the greater warrior is the one that can destroy you but chooses instead to spare you and become an ally. I then introduced a new concept; the role of our society is being the strongest warriors possible in the defense of those who are defenseless. Our intent is to make sure that we treat others as we would like them to treat us. I then told them that as their ruler that each tribe to be prepared once a year to show all the other tribes how they have fought to make sure justice is done in all our dealings. They were initially resistant because they felt they were losing their right to fight and were not going to be allowed to be warriors. I told them that anyone can fight for no reason or even the wrong reason; the true warrior fights for a reason worth fighting. They have agreed to discuss this concept in their tribal conferences.”
“Now I see that I also must make a choice about where we are going to go from this point on. I have decided that I would like to discuss this with the Humans. Will you set up a conference in five rotations for us to meet with them and you on your home world?”
Terl said, “I’ll ask them and let you know in half a rotation. I think you will find them an interesting race, your Excellency.”
“We’ll see in five rotations.” Then Tgon-Gee cut the connection.
Director Nicole had called the meeting to order when Colonel Salerio told her that Terl was on her com and needed to ask her an important question. Misty asked for silence and then punched her com button, ‘Head Clansman Terl, it’s good to see you; however we are in a planning session for the next phase of our campaign to survive the Alliance. We have a full room here, is your question one I should take in private?”
“No Director, I have just spoken to the Crown Prince of The Glod Union and he wishes to have a meeting with us five rotations from now. Does your schedule allow for that to happen?”
Misty looked around the room and nodded to Danielle, “Head Clansman,” Danielle asked, “what do you think about this meeting. Is it important?”
“I believe it is Mrs. Danielle. They have had an epiphany about the danger the universe holds for races that think might makes right. He sees that if he had lost all his ships in the last Alliance invasion then there would be races lined up to conquer them. It’s like having a close brush with death; you see yourself much clearer afterwards. They are still a very powerful race and they are at a pivotal point in their choice of where they go from here.”
Danielle said, “We will meet with them. Director Nicole, Tag, Admiral Kosiev, One representative from the SFT, and I will be there in five of your rotations.” Danielle had looked at each person as she called their name and they had all nodded.
“Good, we look forward to seeing you again.”
Director Nicole said, “Colonel Salerio please set up the travel plans. Now, I closed the meeting yesterday when Tag had suggested placing himself in great danger trying to deceive the Alliance. Has anyone come up with an alternative plan?”
No one said anything for several minutes; then Danielle stood up and said, “I remove my objection to his plan.”
Misty looked shocked and asked, “What caused you to change your mind?”
“I’m going with him.”
“Oh no you’re not,” Misty said! “We cannot afford to lose both of you.”
Danielle looked at The SFT and said to the Director, “Why don’t you ask Sung Lea about that.”
Misty looked at the SFT and Sung Lea stood up and said, “Director, we must allow her to go with him. Our vision is clear; we will only survive if she stays by his side throughout this conflict. If he goes alone; we perish.”
“What can she possibly add during a battle? She’ll only be in danger.”
“We don’t know the role she plays in this but we know she must be there. Director, this is not an opinion of our group, it is a decision.”
“Do all of you agree?” Misty asked and all six members stood up and nodded.
“Admiral Kosiev, I want steps taken in the planning of this venture to insure their safety. I am going to hold you personally responsible for keeping them alive.”
Kosiev looked at Tag and Danielle and said, “Madam Director, how am I going to order two people around who outrank me?”
Misty smiled and said, “No one said your job was going to be easy. I’m holding you responsible.”
Kosiev looked at the Director and then at Tag and Danielle who were both smiling and said, “Oh
that’s marvelous. Isn’t this going to be a hoot.”
State Leader Stein was looking over a diagram of a machine in his office and discussion it with the Alliance’s head scientist. He glanced out the window and there was another winter storm brewing. Then he turned back to the scientist that was talking in terms he had no idea what they meant. “Just a minute; in layman’s terms, describe what this machine of yours does,” he said.
Vew Nicht looked at the State Leader and thought a minute and said, “The screen around the planet that you want to get thru is basically a battery, it absorbs and uses power. The only way to weaken a battery is to drain it. This machine will absorb energy from the screen and dissipate it into space. We build this device into 100 of your largest ships and park them outside the limit of their beam weapon which is the distance the Warlords ship was from the planet during the last attack. We then hit the planets screen with our energy displacement beam and start discharging their screen which will then cause that screen to fail and then planet will be open to attack.”
Annihilation: The Power of a Queen Page 10
