by Saxon Andrew
“Your vessel was invisible.”
“Then how did you see us.”
“The force you’re using to move your vessel leaves a wide disturbance in the energy path.”
“We call the energy path a filament,” Elena noted. “Are you saying that the filament is disturbed by our thrusters?”
“The power you use to move your vessel causes a wide disturbance behind it.”
Elena turned to Gregor, “If that’s true, why didn’t any of those war fleets we passed not attack?”
Gregor asked, “Is this wake visible from a distance?”
“No, but it’s easily seen as your vessel passes.”
“That explains it, Elena. We were moving too fast for them to react.”
“The ships that use the energy path…I mean filament, are not capable of attaining the speed you travel. There is one ahead of you that can.”
“What?”
“There is a civilization ahead of you, if you continue moving on the course you’ve been taking that can travel at a speed very close to yours. I believe if they detect you, they will attack your vessel. They attacked the ones that were making the energy…darn it, filaments and destroyed their ships.” The small bridge was silent and, after a minute the being observed, “I’ve said something that has upset you.”
“Are you saying the ones that made the filaments have been killed.”
“That happened long ago.”
“Why were they killed.”
“I think the Greng consider the existence of the filaments as an intrusion into their domain. They stopped the construction and killed the ones doing it.”
“The filaments end.”
“Yes, they do. You would have run into Greng territory in another twelve of your days, if you hadn’t stopped.”
Chapter Thirteen
Gregor sat on his chair and felt a sense of dread fall over him. “What are you thinking, Gregor?” Elena asked.”
“He’s feeling…”
“Hold on there, Torn! It’s not polite to reveal someone’s thoughts and feelings without their permission; that’s very impolite!”
“Oh! Sorry about that. I’ll avoid that in the future and only listen to spoken words.”
Gregor turned to Elena, “The Filament Makers may not be a threat, but this Greng concern me.” Gregor then asked, “Do these Greng use the filaments to travel?”
“No, they do not. They use another method to travel subspace.”
“And you say it’s as fast as this ship?”
“I think so. You’ll need to have a race with one to be certain.”
Gregor looked up, “We need to go see this Greng Civilization.”
“But Gregor, if they don’t use the filaments to travel, how would we be able to investigate them?”
“I don’t know, computer. But we need to make the effort.”
“Better do it while you can.”
“Why do you say that, Torn?” Gregor asked.
“Gregor, they are systematically destroying the filaments at the edges of their domain. If I’m right, they will be destroying the last section that was made soon. I assume you want to see one of the vessels used by the builders of the energy tracks.”
“We can’t do that with you on our hull, Torn! You’re disrupting our stealth technology.”
“I can’t leave your vessel, but I can move inside it and that should resolve your problem.”
“And there’s nothing I can do to persuade you to just leave?” Gregor asked.
“Sorry, but no.”
Gregor sighed and looked at Elena, “It appears we have no choice but to invite him in.”
“How do we know he won’t harm us?” Elena asked.
“If he wanted to harm us, and has the ability to move inside our ship, he would have already done it. Besides, he sounds like an average Joe, who’s having a run of bad luck.” Gregor looked up, “Move inside.” Gregor waited for a minute and asked, “Did you hear me.”
“I’m inside your ship.”
“Where are you, I don’t see you.”
“I can see him,” The computer announced. He’s ten-feet in front of your chairs.”
Gregor shook his head, “Is there any way you can make yourself visible to us?”
Suddenly, a six-foot-tall white cloud, with flashing golden sparks, appeared. “Can you turn off the flashing sparks?”
The sparks disappeared, as they heard, “I thought they’d help with my appearance.”
Gregor looked up, “Computer, what about the stealth systems.”
“Fully operational.”
“Take us back in the filament and start moving at half-speed. See if you can detect this wake Torn mentioned.”
• • •
The Dragon Fly left normal space and moved into the filament. It accelerated away, and the computer announced, “I cannot detect a disturbance behind us.”
“Oh, it’s there.” Torn replied.
“I can’t detect it.”
“You’re moving too fast to see it. But it’s clearly visible,” Torn stated.”
Gregor stared at the cloud, and then suggested, “Let’s try this. Computer; start reducing speed and Torn, tell me if the wake disappears.”
The ship began slowing down and finally, Torn announced, “It disappeared.”
“That’s because I’ve just shut down the thrusters.”
Gregor nodded, “So, it appears, if we use the dark energy for thrust, we can be detected. Computer, what about the gravity booster.”
“Activating them.”
“I can still see a wake but it’s not as large as the others you’ve caused.”
“Reducing power on the gravity booster,” the computer announced.
A few moments later, Torn said quickly, “There, it disappeared!”
Immediately, the computer replied, “We can move at one-half gravity boost, Gregor.”
“How much slower is it than the dark energy thrusters.”
“Actually, it’s not that bad. We can fly at one-third of our maximum speed using half-power to the gravity booster.”
“Computer, I want you to stop the ship in the filament and see if you can use the gravity booster to hold it in place.”
“Why would you want that?”
“I want to be able to hold a position and not be pushed away by the flow in the filament,” Gregor answered.
The Dragon Fly came to a stop in the filament and Gregor looked at the energy being, “Can you see any disturbance around my ship.”
“No, there is nothing that could be detected.”
“Will you show us where the filaments end, Torn.”
“Do you want me to take you to where one of the derelict ships that made the filaments is located?”
Gregor smiled, “Yes, I’d really like that.”
“Ok. You can go to full power for the next ten-of-your-days.”
“Why are you agreeing to do this, Torn?” Elena asked.
“I feel bad about not being able to leave your vessel. And you’ve made me curious about these Filament makers. It should be worth the time.”
Gregor wondered how he was going to rid himself of this energy being, as he leaned back in his chair, and the Dragon Fly went to its full acceleration.
• • •
Elena was sleeping in her chair again and Gregor was in the small sleeping quarters. The bridge was quiet except for the air-circulators and hum of the generators behind the walls. “Torn?”
“Yes, Computer.”
“How long has it been since you were in the Greng’s domain?”
“About a thousand of your years.”
“You mentioned they see the filaments as intrusion into their territory.”
“Yes, they do. The filaments once extended far out from where they end now. The Greng have been systematically removing them.”
“They don’t sound very hospitable.”
“They’ve attacked my community in the past.”
&n
bsp; “They have?!”
“Yes, but they finally gave it up.”
“Why?”
“They were unable to hit any of us with the hot energy beams produced by their vessels.”
“Uhhh…why was that?”
“Computer, they were too slow. We’d see them coming and simply move out of the way.”
“You can move faster than the speed-of-light?”
“Yes, Computer. So, can your ship.”
“But we can only do that inside a filament and can’t do it in normal space.”
“My community is in subspace. They would have to be within a few hundred-feet from us to manage to hit us with one of their beams and we would never allow them to get that close.”
“Were you able to damage their vessels.”
“We didn’t try seeing it as a waste time and energy to do it. We just ignored them, and they eventually gave up trying. My people are not in the least bit aggressive.”
“Do you ever worry they might develop a weapon that could hit you?” Torn was silent and the Computer asked, “Do you?”
“I don’t think we’ve ever considered that.” There was a long silence and Torn said, “Perhaps it’s a good thing I’m going with you.”
“One never knows what can happen.”
“I agree, computer.”
Gregor listened to the conversation in the sleeping booth and knew the computer was right. The new missile Gem developed could travel multiple times the speed of light. Blasters were not the only heavy-weapon that could kill.
• • •
The Dragon Fly finally left the 440-filament in a large elliptical galaxy and they moved on to the smaller filaments. “How long before we arrive at the derelict you mentioned, Torn?”
“Gregor, we’re about six-days from its location. When the Greng attacked the Filament Builders, many of them fled into the center of this galaxy. Most of them were destroyed in the filaments they created and entered normal space. However, the filaments they were on have been removed and it would take you hundreds-of-years to arrive at their locations.”
“The Greng removed the filaments where they were destroyed?” Elena asked.
“Yes, they’ve been removing them from this galaxy to isolate their planets from the rest of this galaxy. But some of the Filament Makers made it deep into the galaxy and the filaments they were traveling still exist…for the moment. I think they will eventually be removed as well.”
“Do any civilizations in this galaxy use the filaments to travel?”
“Yes, Gregor. And they’ve attempted to stop the Greng from destroying them, but are no match for their technology. The Greng ignore them like we ignore the Greng.”
“Computer.”
“Yes.”
“I want you to convert to the gravity-boosters four-days out from Greng territory.”
“You can travel two additional days before you need to do that,” Torn remarked.
“Call me skerd, but I’m not taking any chances.”
“Skerd?” Torn asked.
“It’s means afraid, frightened, cautious, reluctant…”
“I get it.”
Elena turned to Gregor, “Why are you determined to examine a Filament Maker vessel.”
“If you had to guess, what would you say?”
“Gregor, I’ve been struggling with that since you decided to go. It can’t be to examine their weapons; they didn’t stand up to the civilization that destroyed them. I would think you’d try to scan a Greng warship and see what they have.”
“Elena, you’re not thinking this through.”
“Tell me what I’m missing.”
“I’d rather you figure it out. Other than creating filaments and their weapons, what else did the Filament Makers have that we don’t?”
Elena sat in silence and the computer snickered, “I know what it is.”
“Shut-up…don’t tell me.”
“I think I know, as well,” Torn said.
Elena closed her eyes and then opened them, “They could travel faster than light outside the filaments?”
Gregor smiled, “Exactly right! Give the girl a kewpie-doll.”
Elena stared at Gregor, “Are you intending to remove their drive system?”
“No, that won’t be necessary. All we need if for the computer to do a full, through scan of their vessel and we’ll have what we need.”
“And what happens if the Greng detect the scan and show up?”
“Elena, then we’ll be following your suggestion and take a close look at them.”
“I hope it’s not really close.”
“I do, too.” The computer added.
“Make that three of us,” Gregor said smiling.
• • •
Torn turned slightly whiter, as he said, “We’re four-days away.”
Gregor noticed the slight change in color when Torn communicated a few-days earlier. He started to issue orders, but the computer announced before he could, “Going to half-gravity-boosters and activating all stealth systems.”
“Computer, do you have any thoughts on what we’re about to do?”
“Gregor, I was really worried about finding the Filament Makers. You have to know they are more advanced than we are.”
“Yes, go on.”
“Now, these Greng have me frightened.”
“Why?”
“Because they are obviously more advanced than the Filament Makers and they are not bound by the filaments to go after us. They can cut our escape route off and catch us no matter what course we choose to take.”
“That’s assuming they can see us, computer.”
“You know how I always worry the worst will happen and they will detect us.”
“Plan for the worst and hope for the best?”
“Something like that, Gregor. I think it’s part of my programming.”
“I think it’s a lesson you learned during our pirating days with Emmett.”
“Who knows where it comes from…but I am worried.”
“So am I,” Elena added.
Gregor chuckled, “And me makes three.”
• • •
The Dragon Fly moved forward in the filaments, and soon, there was no traffic traveling them. It was clear that this area of the galaxy was being avoided. Finally, Torn announced, “We’ll be arriving at the last location of the Filament Maker’s vessel, momentarily.”
“Computer, launch a probe into normal space and see if you can detect it.”
“Aren’t you worried it might be detected?” Elena asked with a worried expression.”
Gregor smiled, “It doesn’t have a field around it and will just pop into normal space without using energy. You aren’t comfortable fighting a space battle, are you?”
“No, I’m not, Gregor. I’m accustomed to meeting my enemies on the ground where my arrows and sword can be used. I almost feel helpless trapped inside a warship. My talents don’t serve me as well in space; especially, when I know our enemy is more highly advanced.”
“Gregor, we need to back up on the reverse flow of the filament. It’s about two-light-years behind us.”
“Make it happen, Computer, and enter normal space when we’re close.”
“I’ll direct you to the closest point to exit subspace,” Torn offered.
“Say when!” the computer replied. The Dragon Fly moved into the reverse flow and Tron shouted, “Slow down!!” The Dragon Fly came to a stop and started drifting slowly forward in the filament’s stream. Torn started calling out instructions, “Maintain this speed. Exit in five…four…three…two…one…NOW!”
Elena looked at Torn, “You’ve really learned our language.”
“I’m blessed with high-intelligence that comes from my ancestors.”
Gregor looked at the wall-monitor and saw a glowing speck in the distance. “Torn, how far is that ship?”
“Why didn’t you ask me that question, Gregor?”
“Computer, you would have to
use your scanner to answer it. Torn just needs to look at it.”
“Duh, you’re right. I’m getting rusty in my old age.”
“Computer, you’ve just been given a brand-new body!”
“With an old computer inside it!”
Torn interrupted them, “It’s about a hundred-thousand-miles from our current location.”
“Computer, used one-tenth of the Gravity-boosters power to move to it.” Gregor turned to Torn, “Do you see any Greng vessels or probes?”
“There is a probe a long way out in open space from here.”
“Do you think it can detect us?”
“Probably not. You aren’t leaving any disturbance behind us and light is not being reflected from the hull.”
“Take us to it, computer.”
• • •
The Dragon Fly began moving quickly forward and in thirty-six minutes it arrived just outside the stricken ship’s hull. Gregor stared at the large derelict, and saw the rear-third was missing. “This thing is huge.”
“I agree, Elena. But it’s damage offers us an opportunity. Computer, is there room in the rear of the ship for the Dragon Fly to enter?”
“I think six could go inside. That ship is at least four-miles long and the size of the blasters on its hull are beyond any I’ve ever seen.”
“Take us slowly inside and stop where we can make a quick exit if needed.”
“What are you going to do, Gregor?”
“Elena, I’m going to scan the systems of the bridge of that vessel. I’m hoping that probe doesn’t detect it through the derelict’s hull, but if it does, we’re going to make a fast escape, before a Greng Warship arrives.”
Elena nodded, as the Dragon Fly moved to the rear of the giant vessel and moved slowly forward. “I think this is where the reactors were,” the computer stated.
“It is,” Torn replied.
“Is it radioactive?”
“No, it’s not. I believe the reactors didn’t explode. It appears the entire rear-third of this vessel was cut away and flew off from the main body of the ship.”
Gregor turned to Torn, “That would have to mean it was cut away instantly.”
“It does appear it was.”
“That is not good!”
“I agree, Computer. Whatever the Greng used to fire on this vessel went through its force field like it didn’t exist.”
Gregor nodded, “How long will it take you to do a full scan of this ship?”
