Annihilation: The Power of a Queen

by Andrew, Saxon;Chiodo, Derek

  “Part of your talent is to protect you from discovery. I’m certain that during those moments of stress your body does not secrete the oil that would leave finger prints.”

  “Thanks, Atlas. I think I’m going to have my wife order a state funeral for these two warriors.

  “She’s already done it by using her com to contact Tgon-Gee,” Atlas said. “They’ve scheduled it for tomorrow midnight.”

  Tag looked at the crowd yelling Oya-Luah even louder and said, “Atlas, she will make a marvelous Queen, won’t she?”

  “Did you ever have any doubt? She is also the best keeper of her talent, too. You are war, she is peace. How you two stumbled together is a vast joke on this universe. It almost makes me believe in fate.” Tag sensed that both of them were smiling at the thought.

  Chapter 11

  Admiral Dorg and Head Clan Leader Terl had watched Danielle and Tag’s arrival on the Glod home world. They saw the events that took place on the way to the arch and they had the news reporter on the feed explain the rite that was used to challenge her selection. Everyone on Cainth and Earth were watching the feed fearing for their chosen leaders.

  Dorg and Terl both jumped up when Danielle and Tag were surrounded by the warriors and challenged. They like everyone else on the two planets held their breath when the warriors attacked Tag. The ease with which the smaller Human defeated those warriors was stunning. The news announcer reported that those five warriors were all planetary martial weapon champions and the Human defeated them without weapons and all at one time. Everyone watched as Danielle asked the fifth warrior to decide. After he bowed, there were celebrations on all three planets. They were all in love with their new Queen but this took her to an entirely new level. Even the Humans who had not had a Royal Family in more than a millennium were caught up in the moment. They had already accepted her as one of the Earth’s leaders anyway, so making her a queen only made them even more proud of her. The victory of her husband over the warriors gave Earth a sense that they could overcome any trial. The celebrations on all three planets grew until billions were celebrating their new chosen leaders. It brought all three races that were so different physically to look at each other as equals and friends.

  Terl turned off the feed and said, “I thought Tgon-Gee was somewhat crazy about this aura business but now I’m inclined to believe him. There isn’t a warrior in our armed forces that could defeat a Glod warrior in hand to hand combat. He defeated four armed champions starting with no weapons but his hands.”

  “And they were all great champions, too,” Dorg added.

  Terl sat down and gazed out the window and thought for a few moments then he turned in his chair and said, “Our race has never put much stock in this so called psychic ability. We tend to lean toward more worldly and practical matters. But this is eye opening. Let’s just say for the moment that we accept what Tgon-Gee says is true; what kind of implications does that have on us?”

  “I can think of two right off the top of my head, as the humans would say,” Dorg replied. “The first is simple; you make sure whatever side that husband of hers is on, you make sure that’s the one you’re on too.”

  “And the other?”

  “You make her your ruler for real instead of just an imaginary title given to honor her.”

  Terl looked at Dorg and said in a tight voice, “So you’re saying she should take my place as our leader?”

  “Clan Leader, she doesn’t have the time nor does she wish to take your place. She would have to spend all of her time here to take over your duties and she’s not going to do that. She will demand we rule ourselves in our day to day interactions.”

  “Then what value is it to make her our ruler?”

  ‘She will be the arbiter of the issues between our races; her word will be final. She will give us the vision of what we can become and the things we must do to get there. She will not accept the stupid things we sometimes find ourselves doing like fighting among ourselves and wanting to kill new contacts instead of communicating with them. She will bring the very best of what’s inside us out. Tgon-Gee said that she will lead them into a golden age. His race has already decided to follow her lead and the announcer said that some of their nations that had been at odds with each other for hundreds of cycles have started talking to try and heal old wounds. They listened to her say their duty was to support each other. She will impose decisions on all of us for the good of all. Clan Leader, just think about the possibility of our three races all looking at each other as true Clan Brothers and willing to die for each other. It’s a vision I can see worth dying to make happen. We have to commit to whatever her decisions are between our three species. We will continue to govern our day to day activities.”

  Terl lowered his head and said, “She makes me feel small. I want to keep my position and power yet I know that she would gladly walk away from it if we asked her. She wants nothing more than for all of us to grow together. She sees more of us than we do. It’s time I give more than lip service to our duty to protect our race. They can do a much better job than I. I’m going to ask the council to make her our new ruler in fact.”

  “Clan Leader, you would be wrong to do that.”

  “Why, I thought you wanted her to be our ruler?”

  “I do Clan Leader, but I want you to lead us where she directs. She has to have your support and active participation for it to work. You have to change our leadership structure at the top. She is our queen; you are her prime minister making her plans happen. You are the only one that can make that change take place. Tgon-Gee will continue to lead the Glod on all planetary issues but he will follow his queens’ instructions on the direction his race is moving. Even the Director of the Humans runs the everyday governing of their planet. You should do the same. I’m also certain that Mrs. Danielle will refuse to replace you and will abdicate before she allows you to resign. Do you see it any other way?”

  Terl got a faraway look in his eye and said, “I understand now what you were saying. I can see the future of our three races united under a common belief of each member of our races being invaluable to the universe. It’s a vision worth giving up power to make a reality.”

  “Clan Leader, when you give away power to make a vision come into existence, you become more powerful. You have my complete loyalty to you to help you make it happen.”

  Terl looked at Dorg and put out his hand; Dorg took it and shook it like the Humans did. “First things first Admiral; I have to go get ourselves a new queen elected to rule us for real. Just describing the coronation ceremony will get most of the clans to vote yes. You know how we like a party. I think the video of what we saw today will also go a long way to help my effort. Admiral, does she bring the joy out of all of us just by telling us how wonderful we are? I want to make this vision become reality.”

  “Clan Leader, I think we have only seen a small part of what we will feel as we grow up. You have to admit, we’ve got one torgava Royal Couple.”

  Kosiev commed Tag and said, “I think it’s time we started getting your ships ready to go visit the Alliance.”

  Tag was with Danielle at one of the many functions that the Glod had planned for her. He excused himself and stepped out on a balcony overlooking one of the gigantic forests that surrounded their cities. He looked out at two huge reptilian looking birds as they landed in a tree next to the building and began dismembering some kind of animal as big as a horse that they had caught. Even the birds were huge here. They made an eagle look like a humming bird. “Why do you say that?”

  “We’ve had more than 9,000 ships jump in within the last 8 hours and more are coming all the time.”

  “I’ll leave immediately,” Tag said and went back in and whispered into Danielle’s ear, “It’s time; I have to leave.” She stood up and excused herself and walked with him to the exit.

  “Do you have to go now?”

  “Yes, there are more than 9,000 ships at the Alliance Capital with more arriving every hour
. I can’t delay any longer.”

  She looked up at him and hugged him tightly. “Make sure you come back!”

  ‘I will. You take care of yourself and junior here.”

  “There is no danger here. I think the Glod love me more than you do.”

  “That’s not possible and you know it.”

  “I know, I just love to hear you say it.”

  He looked down at his wife and could see the aura surrounding her. Her blue eyes and blond hair coupled with an inner beauty that amazed him made him want to explode with the love he felt for her. She could also see what he was feeling and it grounded her. She had all she ever needed right here in front of her. She came into his arms and for the first time there was no shock, their auras merged and became one. He eventually stepped back and said, “I’ll be back soon.”

  He turned and walked out the door to a shuttle that was waiting for him on the grounds of the administration building. The shuttle broke several speed records getting to the Ultra Battle ship Atlanta which jumped straight to Earth orbit. Tag looked at Captain Smith, the former helmsman of Kosiev on the Moscow, that now commanded the Atlanta, and said, “I just can’t get used to moving this fast. Thirty minutes ago I was talking with Danielle on Glod; my how times change.”

  Kosiev looked up as Tag walked onto the bridge of the Zeus and smiled as he said, “Welcome aboard. What took you so long?”

  “These new ships sure make the old ones look slow. Where is my fleet?”

  “Just outside the orbit of Neptune; the ships have just completed their software installation. We’ve only programmed ninety to escape when you hit the button. Some of them will probably be destroyed during the battle so it will probably be less than 70 that make it.”

  “Well, let’s go do it.” Tag said.

  Kosiev said into his console, “Captain Mikado, if you would execute the jump, please.” The outside view changed to white light then the ships appeared in the forward view.

  “Mr. Gardner, your shuttle is waiting for you in the docking bay. Good luck and good hunting. I will send you the coordinates to jump to once the sensor pod determine an area rich in targets.”

  Tag left the bridge and took the pneumatic tube to the docking bay. The new ships were so large that it would take thirty minutes to walk so tubes were installed to move the crew between decks and levels. Tag arrived and his shuttle crew lifted and took him to the Washington. He entered the bridge and thought, “Well old girl, this is a good way to make an exit.” Some of the Empire class ships had to be used in the attack or the subterfuge wouldn’t work. The oldest were selected to be used and the Washington was the first and oldest of her class of ships. “I’ll bet Kosiev didn’t like to see you go on this trip. He still misses the Moscow.” He pressed the entry code into his console and it came on and all the displays lit up. Kosiev commed Tag and said, “I see your board just came on. I’ve downloaded the coordinates into your guidance system for where your fleet will jump. Remember, your fleet will jump in the shape of a hollow sphere then close on your ship and form into a three ship line. All you have to do is steer toward the largest mass of ships and when you start to get surrounded, hit the change formation dial.”

  “Admiral, you’ve taught me all this already. Don’t forget to pick me up; I’m jumping in 10 seconds, 4, 3, 2, 1,” and the fleet disappeared from Kosievs screen.

  And reappeared in the middle of thousands of warships that were maneuvering to move away from the 600 breakout points of his fleet. He hit the execute button which released the weapons on all of his remote ships. He turned toward a group of cruisers and saw his needles hitting ships around him and watched as his two primary beams destroyed a dreadnaught in his path. He let the ship fly itself and watched his monitor as his ships cut a path thru the Alliance Fleet as they formed up on him. His sensor display indicated that 830 alliance ships had been destroyed in the brief moments of his fleet’s arrival. The remote controlled ships formed on his ship and turned into a group of 400 dreadnaughts. He lost sixty ships before he reached them when fifty of the dreadnaughts would target one of his ships and overload its screen. Then he was among the huge ships firing needles and primary beams into the mass. He lost 100 more ships as he moved thru their formation. He hit the formation dial and his ships began a weave pattern turning rapidly right and left. He saw that more than 340 dreadnaughts had been damaged or destroyed. The Alliance fleet was caught by surprise but they were quickly getting their act together and grouping up to attack individual ships. He hit the formation dial again and began an up and down weave. He had lost fifty more ships but had destroyed another 439. He then sent all the ships directly away from his ship and had them turn sharply and return to a line formation. He was flying the Washington thru the fleet and used his talent to avoid being targeted by the Alliance fleet. He could see the shadows in their formation where they would miss him and he steered the Washington toward them. He lost eighty nine more ships as they fought singly before returning to formation but the Alliance lost another 278 ships. He was now down to 279 ships as he watched more of his fleet destroyed as they moved thru the Alliance formation. Then he saw the huge formation of dreadnaughts bearing down on his fleet. Sensors showed more than 4,000. He hit the escape button and fifty four of his ships turned and jumped out of the system. The remaining 224 split in two as Tag turned the formation dial and went above and below the dreadnaught formation then turned and flew into the middle of those behemoths firing needles and primary beams as fast as they could reload. He flew the Washington around the formation and watched as seventy five dreadnaughts turned and targeted his ship with their primary beams. Tag thought, “Atlas, I’m ejecting. Now would be a good time.”

  “I’ll be waiting for you. Just keep moving in the direction you seat shoots you out.”

  More than 8,000 primary beams were hitting the Washington as tag ejected and still it refused to die. It destroyed ten dreadnaughts with its needles and three more with its primary beams. As Tags seat passed thru the Washington’s screen into the primary beams of the Alliance ships, his seat was burned away. His personal screen came on and he continued to fall away from the ship he had made his home during his battles with the Alliance. It was almost as if the ship refused to die until he was safely ejected and the ships attacking him were drawn away from his vicinity while the Washington continued to take a deadly toll on the Alliance Dreadnaughts. Then the Washington exploded. There wasn’t even rubble left. Every earth ship had self destruct mechanisms on them to insure the Alliance wouldn’t get anything on power cell technology. Every power cell released all its energy when it lost contact with the ships control board.

  Tag could see the dreadnaughts that were chasing the Washington above and to the left of him. He looked over at the main group of dreadnaughts that the remainder of his fleet had hit and saw hundreds of Alliance ships damaged or totally destroyed. Many of the survivors were leaking air into space. “You might want to pay attention, Tag.”

  Tag jumped and looked down to see a hole in space directly below him that he was about to enter. Then he was in and the hole disappeared. “Thanks, Atlas, you’ve got the coordinates?”

  “Before we go do you want to see the results of your handiwork?” Then Tag saw on Atlas’ screens the Alliance ships that were destroyed or damaged by his fleet. They seemed to fill all of visual space.

  “Wow,” Tag said. “How many did we get, Atlas?”

  Counting those that won’t be able to fight in the next conflict, 5,908.”

  “I guess you can never underestimate the power of surprise. Take me home, Atlas.”

  State Leader stein was sitting in his office screaming at Headman Dgzh, “What do you mean the Glod have selected a Human Female to be their Queen?”

  “Leader, our ambassador on the Glod Home Planet has sent us video of them parading her thru the streets. The entire planet has gone Human crazy. We also hear that this Human female is also the chosen Queen of the Cainth and the Humans. I don’t kno
w how it happened, but it has.”

  “So the Cainth have been misleading us about just how many of their ships were destroyed by the Humans?”

  “Leader, we know they lost more than 80% of their fleet in the last battle with the Humans; we have that on recording. Perhaps they are being forced to take this Human as their leader and we have not sent any help to prevent it. They may not be at fault here. It could have been, make her your queen or face total destruction.”

  “Then designate some ships to go and investigate what’s going on. The Glod don’t appear to be under any duress to accept her.”

  “It certainly looks that way.”

  Suddenly one of Steins subordinates rushed into the room yelling, “The Human fleet has jumped in system and is attacking our fleet.”

  “Get me a feed immediately,” Stein ordered.

  The wall screen came on and they watched as the Human fleet moved thru the ranks of their ships destroying ships by the hundreds. Stein and Dgzh were stunned by the slaughter. They saw Human ships blowing up but the rate of destruction was too slow. Those small ships were killing thousands of their ships and it seemed to go on forever until the final Earth ship was destroyed. “How many ships did we lose?” Stein asked in a quiet voice.