"I think we need a tour of the battleship," said Harry.
"Also an inspection of the transport ship," said Ginny.
"Let's do the inspection now," said Harry.
Harry asked Marco to accompany them. He was pleased they asked. Harry thought that when MP made his historic sojourn, his past knowledge would be a guiding light. As it turned out, he was a wealth of information and very helpful.
A robot led them to the underground cavern where the two ships were hidden. This was the first time either Harry or Ginny had seen the real size of the battle ship. The robot, when asked, said it was over five thousand meters in length. The width was at least a hundred meters. It appeared like a long cigar, but with bulges along the sides in various places. It rested on an airbag with intermittingly placed support structures between airbags.
The transport ship had already been loaded aboard. A computer screen printed out the list of inventory. Marco said, "By this list we've everything needed to start a new colony and more than enough spare parts. It has a mainframe computer with all the stations we need for research. And here is a power supply reactor providing an enormous amount of energy. I'd say we are equipped to go anywhere at any time."
-14-
Nothing was heard from AZ or the council for the last two days. On board the battleship, the pilots were watching the big screen as the skirmishes took place on various planets. It was impossible to determine who was winning or losing. It was late the second day when a shuttle craft arrived carrying AZ and BZ. They were not in as big hurry like the last time when AZs planet time was less than a half hour.
As we all gathered in the center pentagon, AZ said, "The war is not going as well as we expected. It looks like we have a standoff at the present time. Both sides are examining the whole situation and taking care of the wounded. We're accessing our ship losses and it's shocking to see we've lost so many of our ships. None of us feel we will lose the war, but it could drag on and on for some time to come. Regardless, we're here to inform you that all is well for the time being. We're having a general council meeting tomorrow and either I or BZ will inform you of the results. Are there any questions."
TJ asked, "Would it be possible to negotiate a ceasefire and or terms for a peace treaty. We've some fine independent third party adjudicators among us."
"Interesting idea and I'll take it back to the council for discussion. Now we must be going."
Those who were interested held back as the others filed out. TJ said, "What does anyone think or have any comments on what we just heard?"
Eleanor said, "It sounds to me like this side is losing. We heard a 'standoff' comment. That usually means one side is losing ground or space in this case. I recommend we make plans for departure at a moment's notice."
"I have a tendency to agree with her," said JM. "At least be prepared to depart very quickly. I also suggest as we hear or see that the war is being lost for the Virtuians, we move onboard and live there until word is given."
"Anyone else want to comment," asked TJ. "Ok, let's return to our quarters and wait."
On the return trip to Virtue, AZ said, "I think our humans thought I wasn't telling the whole truth. Which, as you know, I wasn't exactly lying either. They're smart enough to know what comes out at a conference on how a war is progressing. Besides, they're not going anywhere anyway."
"We'll know exactly when we return. A meeting has been called for all five of us. I hope we can hear some good news," said BZ.
In the council chambers, specialists with visual maps were determining what was happening in any given quadrant. With the surround video of 3D it seemed like you were right there viewing it in real life. It was a beautiful sight except for the occasional flash of warfare meaning someone probably died. Other than that, the room was mostly silent except for the once in awhile swish of a robe as someone moved.
EZ said, when all were seated, "This war was supposed to be short and decisive with our special weapon. Now it seems when we used it all of the ruling party was underground and unaffected. Someone is a traitor at a high level. Nevertheless, it looks like we're in for a long siege. Does anyone have any ideas?"
AZ said, "The human Thomas Jefferson suggested some of them would be glad to adjudicate in our dispute. We should think about it. As a matter of fact we've nothing to lose by offering a negotiation of peace."
AD said, "This war has disrupted our system and needs to stop. I'm with AZ."
"Let's take a vote," said EZ. All those in favor raise your hands." He looked on and saw it was two for and two against. He was the tie breaker. "I see, well, this is a major decision so I'll postpone my vote while I hear your arguments for and against."
The debate went along for a short time before EZ said, "I'm ready and vote to feel out the Breccia if they might be interested in a truce. AZ will you take care of the inquiry?"
"I'll do it right away. Meanwhile should we bring the battleship that is docked on the human planet out as a show of more force?"
"Not just yet AZ. Let's see what our foes have to say first."
"I'll report as soon as I make contact. Meanwhile, let's take a hard look at what we've done so far and what has been done to them. Also let's get our best military men together and see what they think at this point," said AZ.
The council took a break and went about their respective duties. AZ and BZ went to the communications center; AC and AD went to another communication room to notify the military strategists they were needed. EZ sat pondering the whole war issue as it affected all facets of the economic system and the disruption of the entire schedule of things.
AZ had the message sent to Breccia with a mention of a quick response. AZ and BZ waited knowing that if more than an hour went by they answer would be negative. If a half hour, the message might be a 'wait while we think' kind of response. A quick response might favor a desire to talk peace.
While they waited the military leaders were summoned to the council room. They were discussing the war when AZ and BZ came back with an answer. However, they kept quiet while they listened to the discussion. It appeared the highest ranking person was for negotiating and the two other aides were for continuing. AE looked at EZ and AZ said, "It seems the Breccia don't want a truce, but will consider it for a short while. Meanwhile they said they would agree to a ceasefire for five days."
"Under the circumstances let's cease fire and wait to hear from them. During the down time, you military experts come up with a battle plan that might work with what we have left to fight a war.''
A little breathing room was felt and the pressure was released at least for a short while. Meanwhile, over on Spero the plan was still being worked on. AZ had sent a message that a cease fire was in effect and to relax for awhile.
-16-
That cease fire gave the humans time to investigate the maps of the universe that might be a good direction to escape to. One problem was that after the known map in the computer ended then faster than the speed of light becomes very dangerous. Sensors would reach out only so far and then the chances of running into something became or would become reality. The other problem would be when they came out of hyper-space drive; they would become visible to any long range scans. What they hoped for was the Virtuians being so busy with war they would not have much interest in a small group of deserters. It was also decided that they would not flee in the direction of Earth. Nor would they flee in the opposite direction as that way might be assumed their path away from home. They decided or thought that a direction first towards many habituated planets and then an angle away into sparsely populated systems.
TJ said, "We think after many years of being with the Virtuians that one reason they wanted us was for our ability to think and reason. We also think the Virtuians have been complacent for so long they forgot how to reason and weigh possibilities when needed. Another thing might be that this will be a wakeup call for the Virtuians to welcome their brood into their home with equality as a front runner. Tom More told me
one day that humans have not learned their lesson as regards living together sharing a common dream. Well, this gives us an opportunity to start from scratch and build an equitable civilization as an example for the universe to admire. I realize that would say that is wishful thinking because as AR has shown by example that altruism does not exist. Anyway, let's be ready when the time comes."
That opportunity came about two days later when AZ informed the humans that the cease fire ended. It was back to war and the council wanted the battleship made ready for departure. AZ gave the pilots the course to take once in space. The pilots responded in the affirmative and made ready for takeoff
TJ and JM called a general meeting. He announced the call by the council to make ready the ship for battle. He said, "Those of you who are going, please report to your seats for preparations for takeoff. The remainder we bid you goodbye and good luck. It's doubtful we'll ever meet again, but who really knows the future. All of can see live happy and do what you like doing best."
It amazed Harry how long it took to make the ship ready. He assumed right that it was nuclear powered. Because it was so long, how a ship could this big, travel at ten times the speed of light. His math was not that proficient to calculate how fast that really was. A couple hours later the pilots said they could depart at anytime. They waited and like Harry, most were very nervous about deserting their hosts, but all realized they were dead anyway. Their brains were alive, but life as they knew it before was history. Consequently, it really did not matter one way or the other if they lived or died. However, right now he had his lifelong friend and wife Ginny to talk to. It really did not matter where they went because all of the deserters had no ambitions of grandeur. Besides time did not matter unlike back on Earth they had to hurry to reach that rich retirement age. He shook his head and wondered really how silly that really was. Their goal was to die a billionaire and had sleepless nights wondering where they were on the top dog Forbes list.
Harry did not know how much time had passed before word came for the ship to cast off and rendezvous at the coordinates given. It was their first bit of luck as that course was exactly the direction they wanted to go. Harry and the other five members of the human council were on the bridge watching some very serious people at work; including the robots. A voice from somewhere said, "Prepare for takeoff."
Harry felt the lift and then a very slight motion that took the giant ship out of the cavern. He and the others were seated with surround seats that kept them from moving. A slight push into the seat and they all knew they were moving, still slowly, up and away from the planet. Another voice said, "Prepare for rapid upward acceleration through the atmosphere until we reach space. After that, as this ship has artificial gravity, you can walk about with no problems.
It was not as severe as Harry thought, it felt like a heavy weight on his chest, but after only a few minutes, nothing or no motion was really felt. The next thing was the front convex window opened revealing a spectacular shot of space and its contents. The sight was nothing like he had ever seen before. Before him stars were shining and the habituated planets were different shades of color depending on their atmosphere. It was simply breath taking.
His pleasant thoughts were broken when he heard, "Prepare for hyper space. Return to your seats please." The front window closed and a thrust forward was felt and even though Harry knew they were traveling faster than one could believe possible, it was not uncomfortable at all. The same voice said that all could move around now and we would be dropping out of hyper space in about forty minutes. That forty minute ride would put them so far away from where they originated that it would seem impossible that anyone could locate them in this vast universe with no boundaries. However, never underestimate a civilization that was millions of years advance of human kind. Jefferson suspected that if nothing else, the Virtuians would not like to have been hoodwinked, much less losing a giant state of the art battleship. It seemed logical that each ship in their fleet would have a tracking device of sorts.
It was Jefferson and Madison's thoughts that once they found a location to settle in, destroy the ship and any semblance of past space flight. Now if they could just hang on long enough and find that special planet, maybe, just maybe they could build a life of satisfaction. The other idea they discussed was that stopping at a home planet and then sending the ship into space with the robots piloting. When they reached space, connect hyper space into an uncharted region. It was assumed the ship would eventually connect with an object in space and be destroyed. Hopefully that course would lead anyone looking for it: an impossible direction from which it came.
All realized this was asking a lot, but as said before, the humans had nothing to lose and everything to gain. It was a truism that the future was never known and in this case, the travelers were game for an adventure. It was also a truism that the Virtuians would never end the search for the humans. To lose face is tantamount to taking one's life.
The chase was on. See part three to see what happens.
Campers Dream Part Two Page 6
