by Saxon Andrew
“But they didn’t disappear immediately, did they?” Loree stared at Allison and, after a moment, nodded.
Lukas looked at Allison, “What are you suggesting?”
“Sir, I experienced losing control of my emotions. I was almost paralyzed by fear. Commander Stone suggested that this field that causes the amplification of emotions is either a mental field produced by the Legends’ minds or a technological device. I think we can now assume that it’s done by technology.”
Everyone in the room stared at her and Loree said, “And you arrived at this conclusion by…?”
“The ship that had you trapped did not have a Legend on board.”
Jinks eyebrows wend up, “There’s no way you can know that one way or the other.”
Allison tilted her head, “Look at the conversation we recorded between that Legend Leader and the Legends on the planet. The Leader ordered them to send their ships out to destroy the probes and he continued talking to the Legends on the planet after that order. That means the fear that was being generated in Admiral Barber’s crew had to be done by a device on that Black Ship above her.”
Everyone stared at Allison and Salud said, “What difference does it make how it was done?”
Amanda spoke up, “It makes a huge difference.”
Everyone turned to her and Salud said, “How is that?”
“Because stopping telepathic fields is a different kind of beast from an electronic field. An electronic field can be blocked by the application of more power.”
Lukas leaned forward, “Are you saying we can stop that field?”
Amanda sighed, “Sir, we only use three volts to power the thought blocker.”
“What?”
“We didn’t think more would be needed. We can directly wire the blocker into the armor’s main power supply and I can assure you no electronic field will get through it. If it were telepathic, stopping it with more power would be very iffy.”
Jinks shook his head, “Do you know how long it will take to rewire all those suits of armor.”
Amanda looked up at the ceiling and after a few seconds she said, “About twenty seconds, if you take your time.”
“What?”
“The helmet is set up with subroutines to reroute power to all of the systems it uses. I’ll type up the instructions on how to do it and send it out on a mass message.”
Chris looked at Allison, leaned over, and whispered, “This is why you insisted on coming? You knew about that sub-routine.”
“Yes, but if it wasn’t electronic, more power wouldn’t have necessarily worked.” Chris nodded and straightened up.
Jinks looked at Loree, “Admiral, are you saying the Legends’ warships can destroy our ships.”
“Twenty of mine did not make it out of M-87.”
Chris looked at Loree, “How were your reactors configured?”
Loree looked at him and thought for a moment. She started nodding as she said, “I think I know what you’re asking. Most of the reactors were directed to the thrusters.”
Chris nodded, “Since your ship couldn’t outrun them, if you had put most of your power to the force field and disruptors…”
Loree nodded, “It would have made a difference. I had the reactors shut down so I couldn’t reroute them while we were hiding.”
“How many reactors were powering the weapons?”
“Four.”
“I suspect the ships you lost were attacked by multiple black ships and they only tried to run because of the fear that was overwhelming them. If the disruptors had twenty reactors behind them, it may have had a different result.”
Lukas looked around the room, “We need to have our engineers look at the hull of the Montana and we need to examine Admiral Barber’s recordings. Everyone plan to meet here the day after tomorrow so we can share our findings.”
The meeting broke up and Loree came over to Chris and Allison, “What can you tell me about that ship that destroyed our probes?”
Chris said, “Give me a moment. Gene, do you have the analysis you did of the Legend Supership?”
“I do.”
“Transmit it to my wrist unit.” Chris felt his wrist unit vibrate and he connected it wirelessly to the huge wall monitor. He activated the download and the three of them walked up to the giant monitor. Loree shook her head, “I don’t know how you had the courage to follow that monster if you were as frightened as I was.” The other attendees watched their discussion and moved over to look at the wall monitor with them. They began asking questions and Chris and Allison answered them. Soon all the chairs were in front of the monitor. Lukas watched them and knew he had a great group of officers. He was going to need them.
Chapter Sixteen
Lukas stood up and said, “Let me summarize what we’ve decided. We are going to let sleeping dogs lie as long as possible while we build up our forces, right?” Everyone around the table nodded. “Next, the survivors of Admiral Barber’s Scouts are going to be given the new Barrier Pods to scout any targets we select.” Lukas looked around and everyone nodded. “We are going to remove our fleets from M-84 on the off-chance that their presence might provoke the Legends to attack them there.” Lukas thought for a moment and looked at Loree, “And you are going to go out and start searching for the source of that giant Legend Battleship?”
Loree stood up, “Sir, I have no idea how I’m going to find them. It’s a large universe.”
“Would it be inappropriate for me to interrupt?”
Everyone heard the thought and Loree said, “No it wouldn’t, Barbie. What’s on your mind?”
“Well, it may be easier to find them than you think.”
Everyone in the room looked at Loree in surprise as she said, “You never cease to amaze me, Barbie. Just how would I go about it?”
“We know what line that ship came into M-87. Line your scouts up on that line and go to full speed in the barrier.”
“But I’d be moving too fast to be able to see them.”
“You don’t need to see them, just stop when you feel frightened. Turn on your armor’s thought blocker and look around.”
Chris started laughing and everyone looked at him. Chris shook his head and smiled at Loree, “Thank you so much for allowing me to use Barbie on my ship but I think it’s time the two of you were reunited. You belong together.”
“What about your ship?”
“I have two computers fully capable of replacing her. You need to select who your co-pilot will be.”
“That’s been done.”
“Oh, who?”
“Commodore Hawk Red-Feather will be flying with me.”
Chris smiled. He remembered Audrey recommending Loree get to know him. He felt a wave of melancholy sweep through him and he forced himself to smile, “He is an excellent choice, Admiral.”
Lukas looked at Chris, “Are you going to replace Barbie?”
“No, I think I’ve seen that two computers are capable of performing all the tasks required of them.”
Allison looked at him, “Neither one of them are telepathic.”
Chris nodded, “I’ll discuss that with Piper later.” Allison nodded and wondered why Chris was giving up the lead computer.
Lukas looked at Joey, “How are the assembly plants coming along on Eden?”
“We’re building complete Barrier Pods now. The assembly lines will start moving at full production in less than a month.”
Lukas looked at Stoney, “Where are we on trained Pilots to fly them?”
“All of the senior officers have completed simulator training and are practicing on the Training Pods until their ships are ready.”
“What’s the hold up?”
“The Senior Officers want their computers installed in their personal ships.”
Lukas tilted his head, “Can’t say I blame them for that.” He looked at Chris, “What are you going to be doing?”
“I’m considering stepping out of the ranks for a while to go and visit M-84.”
<
br /> Lukas stared at him and Allison grabbed his sleeve and shook her head. Chris looked at her and she said, “You have to go back to M-86 and tell them what’s going on.”
Chris stared at her. This was the first time he heard about the necessity of going there. “Are you sure about that?” Allison nodded. Chris looked at Lukas, “I think Admiral Simmons makes a good point. Since I’m the one Commander they know, I should be the one to go.”
Lukas nodded, “I think that is wise. If you don’t mind my asking, why do you need to go to M-84?”
Chris stared at him and sighed, “Redemption and I intend to go to every planet my fleets destroyed and say a prayer.”
“That’s thousands of planets, Chris.”
Chris looked around the room, “I don’t think you’ll be needing a conqueror anytime soon. I’ll come back when you need me.”
Lukas looked at him, “We may need you rather quickly.”
“I’ll take a Barrier Pod. I can be back before you stop asking me to come back.”
Lukas stared at him and nodded. Lukas looked at Allison, “You should start thinking about someone to replace him.” Allison stared at Lukas, and then nodded.
• • •
Allison sat on the Barrier Pod in the giant black ship’s landing bay while Chris was meeting with the Commander of M-85’s forces. She was fidgeting and she heard Alley’s thought, “You can’t let him do this!”
“I know, but how can I stop him.”
“Tell him.”
“No!”
“Then you will watch him leave and he won’t be back. He’ll have his own ship.”
Allison shook her head and fought with the thoughts running through her head.
• • •
“This is not good news you brought. Why are you telling me?”
“I suspect some of the civilizations you’re leading are growing impatient to go and take their vengeance.”
“They are.”
“If you initiate an attack on the Monsters, you will be eradicated and it will probably cause the Legends to use their ships to come here and finish the job.”
“How can I stop them? If I don’t act soon, they’ll replace me.”
Chris reached across his panel and inserted a connection into his computer console. Kilon watched him and when Chris withdrew his hand he said, “What was that?”
“It’s a recording of the Legend Ship that eliminated my probes. I’ve also included a recording of the ships around their planet as well as the destruction of the Green Flagship by one of the smaller Legend Ships.”
“Oh, is that all?”
“No, I’ve also included the field trials of the new Progen Battleship. Share it with your civilizations. That should give them pause.”
The Commander stared at him. Then he said, “If we attacked, would you come to our aid if we were pushed out of the Monster Galaxy.”
“No!”
“Why not?”
“Because we don’t have enough of our new ship to take them on. They are more powerful than our previous model.”
“That’s scary.”
“And it’s also true. You need to develop new technology before you take them on.”
The Commander shook his head, “We’re at our developmental end. The new reactor you gave us is now on our ships.”
Chris sighed, “I included a diagram of a new reactor.”
“WE JUST INSTALLED THE ONE YOU GAVE US BEFORE! WHAT KIND OF REACTOR IS BETTER?”
“It’s a Dark Matter Reactor.”
“Say what?”
“I’ve included a detailed description on how to collect dark matter to power them.”
The Commander stared at Chris and exhaled a huge breath. “That should give me something to slow them down.”
“If it doesn’t, start the civil war early and force them to not go there.”
“WHAT?”
“Trust me on this, fewer lives will be lost than if you choose to invade the Monsters. You are nowhere near being able to match their current technology. Your ships will bear most of the load and you’ll be so weakened, you will lose in the following civil war.”
“You’re serious about this?”
“As a supernova.”
The Commander nodded and said, “I’ll do what I can.”
Chris stood up and smiled, “I know my way.”
The Commander nodded, “Don’t be a stranger. Come back and see me when it’s not an issue of life and death.”
Chris nodded, “I’ll see what I can do.” He turned and left the room.
The Commander sat down and shook his head as his two senior engineers rushed into his conference room, “WHAT DID I JUST SEE IN THE DATABASE?”
The Commander shook his head, “Take a seat and perhaps you can tell me.”
• • •
Chris entered the Pod and said, “Alley, take us back to Earth.” He looked at Allison, “Have you decided who will fly with you.”
“Yes, I’ve decided.”
“Who?”
“Don’t worry about it, Chris. You go and do what your soul calls you to do.”
Chris nodded and the Pod arrived at the space port ten minutes later. He stood up and hugged Allison, “Thank you for all you’ve done. You made the difference in getting things accomplished.” He released her and walked out of the small ship.
“ALLISON!!”
“Be quiet you two! It has to be this way.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“That’s insubordination!”
“Tell it to someone who cares. You’re an idiot!”
Allison watched Chris walk away and shook her head. Idiot wasn’t a strong enough term.
• • •
Two days later, Chris picked up a single Pilot Barrier Pod and moved his backpack on board. He looked around and said, “Computer, what should I call you?”
“How about Willow?”
“WILLOW!!”
“Lukas thinks I should go with you.”
“That is the best news I’ve heard in a very long time. Let’s get out of here.”
“Give me a little time to familiarize myself with the systems. I hope you don’t mind if I fly around a while.”
“Take all the time you need. Time is what I now have in abundance.”
Willow spent an hour learning the systems and then said, “Off to M-84.” Chris smiled and watched the outer edge of the huge elliptical galaxy appear on his display. “Where do you want to go?”
“Let’s go visit the Leaders first. Give me a moment to call Allison and wish her good luck on her new partner.”
“Uhhhh, you might want to delay that call.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Admiral Simmons has resigned her commission.”
“WHAT?”
“She’s no longer in the navy.”
“WHAT?”
“I just told you, she resigned.”
“WHY!!”
“She wouldn’t give Lukas a reason. She turned in her resignation and he told her he wouldn’t accept it. She said he had no choice and he told her that she didn’t have a choice. She told him to arrest her and put her in jail but she was leaving and not coming back. She walked out and Lukas didn’t have her arrested. Now you have the whole story. I’m skipping to the planet where the leaders are located.”
“Take me back to Earth!”
“Will you make up your mind!? We just arrived!”
“Willow, take me back to Earth NOW!!”
“Alright, you don’t have to be so pushy. All you had to do was ask.”
“I did!”
“Boy, you’ve gotten a lot more impatient since the last time I flew with you.”
“I’m sorry, Willow. Forgive my manners but get me back to Earth!”
“Is there anywhere in particular you want to go? I hear the weather in Florida is outstanding and the Emitter team there have a nice community.”
“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’
t you?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“It is, what’s going on?”
“You tell me. Why do you think she walked out?”
“I have no idea.”
“Then you’re not as bright as you come advertised.”
“WILLOW!!”
“Why do you think Lukas wouldn’t give me to you?”
“Because the two of you have a close relationship. You’ve been together from the beginning.”
“What would happen if I were destroyed?”
“He, and I, would grieve and then he would have to take another ship.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“He needs a way to go out into space.”
“How could he possibly want to go if I couldn’t take him?”
“Because he needs to be able to go out to know what’s happening. How would he ever get back to Eden? How could he visit the ones he loves there?”
“So you’re saying his life would be less if he didn’t take another ship?”
“Exactly.”
“Think about that and then you tell me why she walked out.” Willow skipped back to Earth in an instant and Chris sat on board in silence. Willow sat on the concrete runway at the spaceport for an hour and Willow left him alone with his silence. Another two hours passed and then Chris sighed. “Willow, take me home.”
The Pod lifted and flew away.
Salud and Lukas sat in chairs next to the huge window in his office and stared at the pod sitting off to itself for the entire three hours. They ordered a meal brought in after the first hour and then continued to stare at the barrier pod sitting on the concrete. Salud held Lukas’ hand and shook her head when the pod lifted. She held her breath expecting it to leap into high atmosphere…but then…it slowly turned and headed toward the officer’s quarters near the beach. She looked at Lukas and he sighed.
Willow landed just outside the officer quarters and Chris stepped out in silence. He went to his quarters and looked around. The place felt empty without Michael. He was with his grandparents and Chris decided to leave him there. He changed clothes and put on a bathing suit. He grabbed a towel and headed toward the beach. He walked down the slope from the dunes and headed toward the beach chairs. He looked hard and saw Allison sitting in a chair. He took a breath and walked down to the chairs and pulled one up next to her. She glanced at him and then turned back to the ocean, “I thought you left.”
