Max was not permitted to enter the station. Lili had ordered the MRB set to report to her. It was time to root out and destroy the 7th Race remnant evil doers. They violated galactic law and would be dealt with. And Lili knew where to start. She was tempted to have Max develop a bio weapon that would only target the 7th Race remnants! She had him develop a hunter micro bot instead. They would find all 7th Race DNA, technology and power signatures. The MHBs would tag and track the 7th Race remnants and report their locations. The 7th Race was itself a dangerous plague and it needed to be removed!
Chapter - 22
The 6th Race Remnants were preparing to enter cryonic sleep chambers. It would take over 2.4 million years to reach Triangulum. The King's legal heir was not interested in leaving the galaxy. He took one of the battleships from his father’s reserve fleet and with his first born son and a handful of his followers – left the fleet and returned to Earth. He knew he would have to fight his older brother for supremacy because he had somehow escaped detection and remained on his beloved planet. It would be a close fight – however his son had a few hidden weapons they could use in the fight – not to mention the 7th Race Time travel system that his father should have used to destroy their enemies! The prince would first rally his chosen people, train them and then when the time was right he would attack.
Of course the prince could not have known the race of amphibians he had destroyed – noticed his return. And they decided it was time to extract revenge upon him. They planned their attack and massed their new warships. They would take no chances against the evil one. They would ambush his warship as it entered the galaxy.
The 1st born son of the 6th Race remnant King had managed to elude the Commander of the Seven Sisters when she vaporized all 6th Race remnants and their hybrid servants including their allies the 7th Race remnants and their hybrid servants form orbit! He had stayed too long on the Earth and had not been able to return to his home world where he had been born. He had been placed in command of the Earth mission and then his father gave the command of Earth to his younger brother – the “legal heir”. These two things – the loss of command and not being able to return home - combined with the long struggle against his younger brother and his younger brother's children – made him bitter. He had watched his younger brother and his younger brother’s children subvert or destroy everything he had built in an attempt to erase his contribution.
It was his turn now! It was only human that he would respond in kind. He had upset his brother's religion with a religion of love. His brother countered with a religion of hate. So the first born son set in motion the creation of a new nation upon the Earth. It had become the strongest most powerful nation the world had ever known. His younger brother learned of his older brother’s plan – however he had no way of knowing what the new nation would be called – so he called it the “Daughter of Babylon”. Knowing full well what would happen to any great nation brought about by Earthlings – even without his direct efforts to topple it. Then the younger brother and his children began to destroy the great nation from within. By the time the Seven Sisters of the Union came to correct the evil that had been committed upon the Earth – the once great nation had all but self-destructed! Now that no nation had any weapons – the world was ripe for the taking.
The 1st born son sat in his observation lounge in his largest submarine base and gazed upon his beloved sea creatures. For some reason his Mind drifted back to the past. He recalled the race of amphibians that had tried to colonize his ocean world. How his father chose his younger brother to lead the attack against them. How his younger brother showed the amphibians no mercy…
The amphibians would never have believed the planet they coveted could not be conquered. They had no idea they were jumping into a war – with a race they thought long extinct – a war from which they would barely escape – alive...
A thousand million years ago the amphibians arose on an ocean world, with a single visible satellite, which orbited a main sequence yellow star in the smaller of the two companion galaxies. The amphibian’s scientists had determined that most of the water in the large spiral galaxy was contained in the Luson arm in the 3rd Quadrant of the spiral galaxy that filed the night sky to the North East. These scientists reasoned the rocky worlds in the Luson Arm would have liquid water.
However they would first have to establish a beachhead in the opposite quadrant of the neighboring large spiral Galaxy - the amphibians called the large spiral galaxy "The Great Sky Pond".
The problem with this plan - the 1st Quadrant of The Great Sky Pond was closely held by their enemy the Tol Tans. The Tol Tans were an ancient, powerful, offshoot species of Union Race number 8 who despised all amphibians. It was a desperate gamble conceived by the old leaders of a desperate race. Their world could no longer sustain life after a thousand years of pollution and technological achievement their home world was dead.
They could not make the long jump to the Luson arm in time. So they hoped the FTL corridors established by the Union were still operational. If the Union FTL corridors were still operational - they could get to their new world in time - before the new clutch of eggs hatched. It was their only hope. The amphibians did not have a long lifespan. The old leaders were kept alive by the ancient medical machines of the Union - which could not be transported.
Cingi could not believe his eyes and ears - his solid state sensor had to be malfunctioning. His task was to monitor the Earthlings and stop them if they tried to escape the solar system - it was inconceivable that ships of unknown type and power were traveling into the solar system! After running diagnostic BIT for the seventh time – he awoke his commanding officer.
Rivet could not believe his commanders good fortune – finding that strange miniature spacecraft after exiting the Union FTL corridor from the 1st Quadrant had to be a good omen. The golden disk mounted on the outside contained an open invitation. The remaining scientists were convinced the craft was some sort of probe sent by a primitive race of ape-like creatures. Creatures who lived on a water world almost exactly like their own. It would be like taking flies from a young Octan's web.
"Sir a powerful narrow band transmission has just been sent in the direction of the constellation Orion from Mars." Rivet reported.
"What did you say Executive officer?" The Amphibian Commander asked.
"Uh – the transmission was aimed toward the constellation Luson from the fourth planet sir." The Executive Officer answered.
"How powerful was the beam?" The Amphibian Commander asked.
"The transmission’s power was one times ten to the tenth Pads sir!" The Executive Officer answered.
"That's a million times stronger than the most powerful Tol Tan beamer!" The Amphibian Commander said.
"Yes sir it is - orders sir?" The Executive Officer said and then asked.
Chapter - 23
The DUR.AN.KI chimed. Lord Ki awoke from his slumber. It was the short range chime. As his head cleared - he saw the reflection of a handsome middle aged male in the polished golden plate hung over his lavatory. He turned on the sea water taps. The sound of the water running into the giant oyster shell soothed his frayed nerves. His head was still pounding from last night’s pleasures. He slipped into his robe and answered the DUR.AN.KI.
"What is it?" Lord Ki asked.
"Sorry to bother you sir – we have detected an in-bound force." Cingi reported.
The image of the ugly creature shifted to a deep space view and there in the deep dark was a fleet of space vehicles. There was something oddly familiar about them.
"What have you learned?" Lord Ki demanded.
"They apparently used the FTL corridor from the first quadrant to travel to the third quadrant and when they approached this system deep outpost six sent the fleet back to this time." Cingi reported.
"A fleet - from the future," Lord Ki asked.
"Yes." Cingi answered.
“Did you alert his majesty?" Lord Ki asked.
"
Yes sir - he wants to know how many Anunaki you can spare." Cingi answered.
"All of them." Lord Ki said.
"I will pass that on." Cingi said.
"Thank you." Lord Ki said.
The creature bowed its bulbous head and the screen blanked
Lord Ki wondered if the Igigi would participate in the coming fight. They were strange allies and he often wondered why they followed his great, great, great, great, great grandfather here to this system. Back then the Union was all and life was good.
“Sir the commander wishes to speak to you.” Lord Ki’s attendant said.
"Send him in." Lord Ki responded.
"Lord Ki." His Commander said.
''Commander" Lord Ki responded.
"Sir if all of the Anunaki return home how will you accomplish the Mission?" His Commander asked.
"I have several fall back plans – fear not commander – do you wish to join the other Anunaki?" Lord Ki asked.
"Yes Sir." His Commander answered.
"Then you have my permission. Send in Esia Mishu.” Lord Ki said.
"Yes sir - and thank you sir." His Commander said.
"You are most welcome commander - I know you will crush our enemies." Lord Ki said.
The room filled with light as Mishu entered.
"You sent for me my lord?” Mishu said.
"Yes come in – we need to discuss a change to the mission.” Lord Ki said.
Chapter - 24
"Sir a large group of FTL space craft just left the vicinity of the third planet." The Amphibian commander’s executive officer reported.
''FTL space craft" Commander Reeto repeated.
"Yes sir." The executive officer said.
"How is that possible?" Commander Reeto asked.
"Perhaps the Apes are more advanced than we thought." The executive officer answered.
"I don't like this - sound battle stations – then figure out where those ships went." Commander Reeto ordered.
The claxon made it impossible to be heard in the CIC. The commander gestured to his executive officer to kill the noise in the Command Center.
"Sir the path of the FTL ships is in the direction of the Luson arm." The executive officer reported.
"Bring the fleet about." Commander Reeto ordered.
“Course Sir?” The executive officer asked.
"The Luson constellation” Commander Reeto answered.
"Yes Sir" the executive officer replied.
The commander’s council leaned over and whispered something in his ear. The commander shook his head in agreement and then said:
"Executive officer – order the clutch ships and the farm ships to stay here. Leave 2 carrier vessels to protect them and two contingents of Marines."
“Yes sir" the executive officer replied.
The main body changed course and began moving south of the ecliptic.
Chapter - 25
"Sir the main body is moving off." Cingi reported.
"What direction?” Lord Ki asked.
“They are following the Anunaki." Cingi reported.
“Alert the Crown and then Space Command." Lord Ki ordered.
"Yes Sir!" Cingi replied.
The Anunaki gazed upon their home after their ships resolved into real space. The point to point jump engines are amazing the Commander thought. The last time he made this trip, it took 6 months. Much had been lost in the dark times. Finally we are regaining our lost technology, he thought. The sight of the golden sphere that was being constructed around his home world reminded him they still had a long way to go.
After the home coming celebrations the Anunaki met in the great celestial stadium. The Arch Council to the King spoke first.
''The beings that attack us are from the smaller of the two companion galaxies." The Arch Council said.
"They are a race of amphibious creatures…” The Arch Council said.
There was loud whispering and then talking in the stadium as the galaxy map image morphed into a tall golden eyed frog on the very large display behind the Arch Council. The Arch Council raised his hands for order and continued speaking.
“Our Intelligence Service reports they came through the Union FTL corridor in the future. Defense Outpost 6 sent the enemy fleet back in time – so we might deal with them now. Their fleet has severe battle damage and is inferior to our technology – however because of their numbers – they are a threat to all of us." The Arch Council said.
"The King’s legal heir – his son shall lead the war against these invaders. Good luck to each of you." The Arch Council said.
There was a tumultuous cheer that could be heard for thousands of cubits. The Anunaki said their good byes and boarded their shuttles. The Anunaki fleet was standing by at the Lagrange point and would be ready when they arrived.
Reeto was now wishing the council had chosen to follow the original plan. To attack unknown beings with FTL drive capability was foolish. Now the words of the oldest surviving Astro Physicist haunted him:
"This world is not stable. Something unseen periodically destroys it! The giant Lakes are too salty for us. The rivers on each continent replenish the salt. We will have to constantly desalt the lakes. Something unseen periodically destroys it…”
Reeto was very agitated. He felt sick as if he had eaten a red beetle. He wanted to retreat and go home. Home - he no larger had a home. The lead politician claimed:
"This world is the exact distance to its sun with a single companion – the planet is perfect – you are out voted."
Chapter - 26
The Union Assembly laughed when the amphibians petitioned to be resettled.
"You brought this upon yourselves despite repeated warnings." The leader of the Eighth Race said.
"Now that the predicted result has come to pass - the destruction of your planet - you want us to save you." The leader of the Eighth Race continued.
"We do not need you to save us – simply let us settle a world in your galaxy." The leader of the amphibians said.
"So you can destroy that one also - I think not. Your petition is denied." The leader of the Eighth Race said.
Thus the amphibians began planning their last hope.
Reeto had wondered why their enemies the Tol Tan did not pursue them through the FTL corridor from the 1st Quadrant. Perhaps they had sent a message to the 4th Quadrant. Perhaps the actual truth was very different than the recorded information in the Union history database. Perhaps there was something in the 3rd Quadrant the Tol Tan feared. The thought of that made Reeto afraid for the first time in his life…
Chapter - 27
While waiting for the MRBs to clean the 7th Race Time Travel station – Max tested his version of the Forerunner's “Door” system. He had ordered the 6th Race Test robots to travel back and forth. M-14 had witnessed the testing. Max's “Door” suit was a 2 piece device that allowed him to step into the suit and step out of it very easily. It had everything he needed built in – power, life support, shields and an emergency beacon. He had tacit approval to proceed. M-14 would “walk” from SPSY-1 to SH-1. M-14 stepped into the front half of the Suit. The rear half sealed to the front half. M-14 activated the “Door”. The Door suit instantly disappeared. The rear of the suit separated and M-14 stepped out. He ran BIT and looked at himself in a mirror that had been brought into the Engineering vault for the test. M-14 walked over to the test bench and recorded his observations. He then contacted Max and reported.
“Excellent – now for the return trip” Max said.
M-14 signaled affirmative in binary and stepped back into the front of the suit. The Door Suit sealed and he activated the “Door”. He instantly appeared in the Engineering Vault in SPSY-1. The suit opened and he stepped out. He followed the same test procedure and documented the results. Max opened the vault and walked in.
Union Ships of the Line: The Return of Tavnit and Dingir Page 7
