Aggressor Earth II

by Benetti, A.

  Eric listened intently to the conversation.

  “A thousand years ago my species the Balyn had a civil war that nearly wiped us out. Once peace finally came about our species was near extinction and drastic measures had to be implemented to keep the peace. Both sides of the war new that neither side could police the other side without a conflict happing again which was unthinkable. Knowing they needed a third party to carry out the rules of the peace, they created what is called the Heavy.

  The Heavy were created to enforce the rules and police both sides without any bias as to the rules. They were constructed to be indestructible and carry out their own maintenance.

  And peace did happen, the rules on both sides were followed and we grew as a species and after many years the old conflicts were forgotten. Both sides inter married and soon we were a single civilization instead of two.

  The Heavy however that were constructed for another time and were not programmed for this outcome. Our scientist looked for ways to shut them down but they had grown into a entity all their own.

  Soon the Heavy began to inflict too much damage to ignore or hide from. They would implement old rules on citizens for rules that seemed absurd. It was decided that the Heavy had to be eliminated by force.

  But after years of peace we had become weak. The Heavy had been programmed from a people who had spent years at war and tactics of an experienced warrior. They became unstoppable and a new war began this time by a unified people.

  Old machines of war were dusted off and put into action again. The Heavy inflicted huge losses but eventually we drove them out of our solar system. But they would regroup rebuild other Heavy units and attack again in waves.

  We built layer upon layer of defensive barriers and defensive structures but they still came. Eventually we became the hunters and hunted down any unit we could find relentlessly not allowing them to rebuild.

  Many years ago we did find many Heavy's in this sector of space. They had built whole manufacturing facilities here to repopulate and had to be wiped out, many Balyn were lost.

  Eventually we succeeded at finding and eliminating all the Heavy's. Knowing how persistent they were we still looked and for many years stayed alert but eventually the threat was forgotten and left to another story in history.

  Then a year ago we got a message from a species we have traded with since the war about rumors of indestructible metal warriors that resembled the Heavy.

  My unit was sent to this sector to investigate. We went to the system were the rumors originated and stumbled into an entire army of Heavy's that we thought were all long dead. They had stayed hidden by staying by a solar system that was not traveled. We saw they had built hundreds of thousands of themselves. My unit of five ships left to report back but we were detected by a lone Heavy patrolling their outer rim. It took all five of our ships to take the single Heavy out, but it destroyed all my other men leaving only me with a badly damaged ship.

  I stumbled along in space trying to make repairs when I ran into this human.”

  The entire room was listing to the Balyn as he talked; Eric was finding the whole story very interesting. The alien seeing the Balyn was done talking said.

  “I don’t see how this information is equal to a ship.”

  Mort looked at him “I don’t think you understand they not only implement their rules on the Balyn but on any species they come across. The Balyn home world is light years from this sector this planet will be one of the first to be over run. Your technology is no match for the Heavy's. You should send as many of your people into space and leave this planet. As for me I need to get back to Balyn and warn my people. If I can get there fast enough we may be able to save this planet although as many Heavy's that are out there I don’t think this entire sector can be saved.”

  The alien looked at the other aliens around him.

  “We need to discuss this information you have given us.”

  The aliens stood up and walked away to the side of the room. Eric who had been listening to everything said, “So that’s what happened to your ship, guess it’s a good thing I came along.”

  Mort sat silently watching the aliens move around and talk.

  “And I thought it was that strange wave that destroyed the Leviton particles that damaged your ship.” Eric said.

  Mort turned to him, “I don’t know what that wave was.”

  The aliens came back from their talk and said to Mort, “We will give you a ship, as what you say does match our records. We wish you a fast journey, we will not leave our home world.”

  Mort nodded to them. One of the aliens held out his hand showing Mort which way to go. Eric stood up as Mort did.

  "So this is it big guy? Come and see me and Baie before you leave I know you have modifications to do on your new ship, maybe we can help. You know where we are at."

  Mort looked at him and walked away silently following the alien that had held out his hand. Turning around Eric sat back down and started talking with the alien that Mort had been talking to.

  "I am hoping you can help possibly with repairs and materials for my ship."

  "If you have information or technology to trade like the other then yes."

  "I have star charts of entire systems and galaxies you could only dream of, as far as technology I would only be able to help out on a limited basis. There are strict rules my people have about trading technology."

  "These charts would be of value to us to a point, what do you require."

  "I need source material mainly metals to fix my ship. I have an assistant currently working on what I will need. Something else I am very much in need of is Levitan particles, I am unsure if your technology can produce them."

  The aliens talked to each other and one of them came forward.

  "I am the science advisor for this committee. We do know of this particle you speak of but have been unable to amass it in any great quantity."

  Damn thought Eric if he helped them to create Levitan particles it would be breaking all the rules. It could take years any ways as they would have to build a super collider to release the particle then collect them with in a magnetic field. It would take much too long to do this.

  "I will return to my ship then," Eric said "When you have the time I will have the star charts ready for you."

  "We will send a intermediary to you that will stay with you until you are ready to leave."

  "Thank you," Eric said and stood up. The thousands of small lights automatically retreated away from him, and he walked back outside.

  The sun had gone down but a large moon still gave him enough light to see his way back to the ship. One of the aliens escorted him back and left when he reached the ship. Entering he walked into the command center and seen Baie was there working on something.

  "Hi Baie," he said

  "Hello Capt."

  "So how much damage is there?"

  "Although the damage is quit extensive, there is no damage to the super structure of the ship."

  Eric walked over to a screen and flipped through it looking at the damage. There was the hole in the side that Mort had caused also causing numerous other system to fell. There was thousands of fist sized holes along the ship from the aliens projectile weapons and they were tasking the single quantum computer.

  "Baie, what would you estimate the amount of time it is going to take to fix all this, with only you and me doing it."

  "I cannot give a definite answer Capt. but at top efficiency two or three months."

  "According to Mort we may not have two or three months."

  "Capt.?" Baie said

  "Never mind just keep at it. Fix all the critical systems first if we have to leave in a hurry let's get them on line. I'm going to go take a nap Baie and get a fresh start."

  Leaving the command center he went into his cabin and laid down. Thoughts ran through his head as he tried to fall asleep, so many things out of his control. Thank god he had Baie.

  Waking he sat up and st
retched his arms out and walked out of the cabin, he needed some coffee. He entered the command center and filled a cup.

  "Baie, what is your location?"

  "Capt. I am helping Mort with modifications on a ship outside."

  Mort must have gotten the ship the aliens had promised him. Going outside he saw a small ship parked next to them. Going over to it he looked in through the back open hatch were Baie and Mort were working.

  "Real roomy," he said taking a sip from his coffee.

  "Room is not what is important, functionality is."

  "My ship might now be flying right now but at least I can stretch my legs out at night. What are you modifying anyways?"

  Baie came over to him. "Only some simply modifications Capt. including new star charts and getting rid of redundant systems that would slow the ship."

  "So what's the plan Mort, just fly toward your planet hoping someone picks you up, you're not going to make it all the way home in this."

  Walking over to him Mort looked him in the eye. "I don't have to make it home I have a plan to warn my people. Time to go."

  Looking back at him Eric replied "Well for what it's worth and even though you damaged my ship good luck Mort."

  "Goodbye human", Mort said and closed the door.

  Standing back from the ship Eric and Baie watched as it lifted into the air and disappeared into the sky.

  Staring into the sky were Mort disappeared Eric said "I guess we should get busy on those repairs Baie, the ships not going to fix itself, this is going to be a long couple of months."

  Looking around he could see Baie had already left and was walking back to the ship.

  "Wait up Baie," he yelled running after her.