Gaul sarcastically replies, asking, "You’re going to threaten me again General?"
Jackson smiles and says, "No, you’re going to offer your help because being my friend goes a lot further than being my enemy and with Carla under my care, that’s a friendship you don’t want to pass up on."
Gaul sits back and laughs, "You know it was said that you are one of the greatest diplomats of your people. I see that is not a myth." Gaul pauses and says, "I will need to contact my council, but I am sure we will be able to find a common ground."
Tess speaks up, "I can have ten Paladin class Battleships available to help, but I doubt they can get here before we leave. They will have to meet us on our journey there."
Jackson asks, "Tess I still don’t understand? If you’re the leader, why didn’t you bring them with you?"
Gaul laughs, "Because her eldest brother was hedging his bets like my people were."
Jackson sits back and asks, "So if I died you were going to steal Carla and hightail it back to your moon. So now that I didn’t die. You want to get on my good side. Am I missing anything?"
Gaul laughs, "Well Jackson, you are very perceptive, just as we were taught, and definitely not shy to say what you think at all."
Jackson looks to Tess and asks, "Your brother Tess? Is he the true leader of your people?"
Tess answers, "No, I was elected to office, but he maintains control of the military."
Jackson frustrated says, "Ok, I have had enough of this political bravado. I want to speak to all your worlds’ leaders."
Gaul laughs again, "No one has been able to talk to a First One in a thousand years, and they don’t play well with others, any better than the Rooke or the Tof’s."
Jackson concerned asks, "What about this Flower Stone, I want this."
Tess reluctantly replies, "Jacks, there is a lot to discuss about the Flower Stone, but this is not the time, and besides it’s in possession of the First Ones."
Gaul obviously trying to steer the conversation asks, "Jackson, you have a major battle ahead, but you want to focus your attention on trivial objects like this?"
Jackson suspicious replies, "This stone may have information to help us overcome a lot of unnecessary deaths. So to me this is not trivial."
The door to Jackson ready room opens, as Val barges in and activates the holoscreen. He immediately announces, "General, they have two more gateways, and they are heading to Earth."
Tess confused asks, "How do you know this? In the past this never occurred."
Val unconcerned replies, "I was studying the data from the Yinglong sensor readings from the T-Challa base. I detected three similar energy readings passing through the T-Challa gateway, and after reviewing the battle data, I found that energy reading was identical to the gateway we just destroyed. Therefore that leaves two."
Gaul speaks up, "Caleb warned us Tess, that every little thing we did to affect the future events could do this. He told us that our involvement no matter how slight would cause ripples in the future, and that unforeseen events could happen, and not even Paladin could foresee every possibility."
Val interrupts again, "I will need to focus all my attention to the jammer system for the seeable future."
Jackson sits back in his seat and states, "We need to find those two other gateways and destroy them before they get to Earth.” They don’t have to open a gateway to that black hole; they could just open up a gateway and let through another armada too.
Val unconcerned says, "I can create a sensor that can locate the gateways, but it will be very limited in its range, and it will be useless if they know were using it. All they need do is power down their gateways and we could fly right pass them."
Jackson still focused on destroying the T-Challa base says, "We will need to split our forces. I will send every Earth ship but the Yorktown to find those two gateways. Gaul, Tess, we will go after their base and shut it down."
Gaul smiles and says, "You will need to send all our ships with your ships Jackson. You are looking for a needle in a haystack. I already have a plan that will take out that base, and all we will need is one ship to do it."
Jackson sighs and says, "I will need to contact Earth, and tell them about this latest information."
Tess says, "The entire Paladonian fleet is over two thousand warships, not counting support fighters, we may be able to get a larger amount of them to assist, but you may need to offer some of Val’s technology for it."
Jackson replies, "Do what you can Tess. Val please have a seat and stay with me for a moment."
Gaul and Tess leave, and head down the corridor, back to the lift, once they are alone in the lift, Gaul questions, "You know you’re playing this very close to the cuff Tess. The plan is simple, just set up the situation for our people to do their job. Just what the hell are you doing?"
Tess sighs and asks, "Gaul, you voted with me on helping the Earthers. Why do we have to do this?"
Gaul replies, "We were outvoted Tess, and although I want to help, I’m a good soldier first, and I have to follow the council ruling. As soon as we can, we steal as many ships as we can. Let the Earthers deal with their own problems."
Tess aggravated says, "You know we risk activating the Paladin protocols by doing this."
Gaul replies, "It’s possible Tess, but I’m starting to think those protocols no longer work, as no one alive has ever seen them activated before."
Tess annoyed replies, "I think our people are about to get a serious wake up call, especially when we break one of Caleb’s prime laws."
Back in Jackson’s ready room, Val sits down and says, "General, I will need to use the repair bots to outfit every ship with these new scanner enhancements if we are to have any chance of finding them, which means exposing that technology to the Paladonian’s."
Jackson smiles, saying, "Yeah Val, I figured the only reason they volunteered to help, was to get more advanced technology from you." Regardless, I need their help and I need to destroy that base. I wish I had let Caleb go after it, way back when he wanted too.
After a few minutes, Jackson finally contacts the Earth command. Haggier is the only officer there, "Yes Jackson, what is it now?” Haggier asks.
Jackson reports, "We have analyzed the combat footage from the time the T-Challa left their base, up until the destruction of their last ship, and we have been able to determine that there are two more gateways remaining. We believe they are currently heading to the Earth right now."
Haggier mouth drops as he falls back into his seat. He rubs his face and asks, "How sure are you of your data? I’m not waking the heads of state on pure speculation."
Jackson says, "I’m sending you the raw data now. You can have your experts confirm it, but we are positive of our findings."
Haggier quickly looks over the data as it comes across his holoscreen. He studies for a minute, seeing the duplicate energy signatures from the gateway and identical energy from the active gateway, which the HMS Hood destroyed, all with a matching signatures. He looks up, saying, "I’m no expert Jacks, but I’d have to say your information looks convincing enough to me. I’ll wake them up. Obviously you will have to wait on your planned assault of their base."
Jackson sighs and says, "And while we hunt these two down, how many more will they send out? I’m still going after that base. I’m just doing it differently."
Haggier replies, "Well, I’m not going to waste my breath arguing with you Jackson. I’ll leave that up to the heads of state."
Jackson replies, "We also have an offer of support from the Paladonian’s to find these gateways, but we will have to outfit them with some of our technology so they can help track down the T-Challa gateways."
Haggier curious asks, "Your opinion on that Jackson, is what?"
Jackson quickly replies, "We give it to them. We need all the help we can get. The alternative is the possible loss of our planet."
Val once again interrupts adding, "The devices I would put in, will give us
a window into the Paladonian technology as well."
Haggier now curious asks, "Such as?"
Val adds, "The program and equipment upgrades will allow me complete access to all their data, and give us unlimited access to their technology upgrades, as well as other systems such as their navigation and communications."
Jackson now troubled with the direction of the conversation states, "And we may jeopardize relations with them, should they find this out, and not to mention we need their help."
Haggier ignorant of Jackson comment replies, "Set it up Mr. Arao, but wait for approval before implementing it, Earth out."
The transmission ends. Jackson looks over to Val and asks, "Val, do you understand what you are doing?” What the hell is wrong with him, he has never acted like this before.
Val looks up unphased and answers, "No General, it’s all so confusing. I really don’t understand what my brother did to me. It’s as if I know the answers to problems the moment they're presented, but I don’t realize the consequences of doing them."
Jackson smirks and says, "Just because we can do something, doesn’t always mean we should. Val, you are far too trusting in people, so, from now on, and before you open your trap, check with me. Besides, your way too important now, you’re the only one with all that knowledge, other than Carla."
Val replies, "No General, there is another whom Caleb bestowed this knowledge too."
Jackson confused replies, "Val, who else has all your knowledge?” What the hell is he talking about now?
Val coldly answers, "Your son, Abraham."
Jackson mouth drops, as he almost falls out of his seat in total shock. He stumbles as he stands, asking, “My son?”
Val answers once again unphased, "Caleb has been slowly downloading information into his mind over the past two years, but he was able to do it in small increments, so as not to cause any lasting damage, unlike what I may suffer."
Jackson in total amazement asks, "How do you know this, and why did he do this?” Did he just say he would suffer?
Val answers, "Caleb put the image in my mind of things he had done, and he wanted to give your son a gift."
"A GIFT!” Jackson yells, "He calls that a gift? He turned my son into ….." Jackson suddenly stops himself, realizing he doesn’t want to insult Val.
Val snaps back to his more human persona and replies, "It’s Ok Jacks. I know I’m acting differently, but I know that won’t happen to your son. Cale was able to avoid damaging his psyche, by doing it slowly over the past two years."
Jackson sits down, saying, "Val, I know you seem different, but I know that Cale didn’t mean to harm you. It’s just; he really should have talked to me and Qui Shi before doing something like that."
Val, coldly replies, "Your son Abraham, is going to have potential to do so much for the world General. He will be to Carla as you and I were to Caleb. You know Caleb always prepares for every possibility."
Jackson sighs, and replies, "Ok Val, go get that scanner ready for mass production, I’ll go talk to Qui Shi.” Qui Shi is going to explode.
Twenty minutes later Qui Shi walks into Jackson's ready room. The door shuts and a minute later the bridge crew hears the roar of a very angry woman, "HE DID WHAT!"
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHOICES
Twenty-four hours pass, as Earth finally responds to the newest state of affairs. Chan addresses Jackson, Gaul, and Tess, "We have decided that we need to use all our forces to locate, and track down these two remaining gateways. We agree to allow Val’s new tracking technology to be shared with our newest allies, the Paladonians. Unfortunately, General Jackson, we have chosen to wait to assault their base. At least until after we have stopped this latest threat."
Jackson impatiently asks, "And while we are all-out hunting these two gateways sir, just what’s to prevent them from sending a dozen more of these gateways into our system?"
Chan calmly replies, asking, "Do you have an alternative son? I’m open to anything your experience will give us."
Jackson replies, "You won’t like it, but I want to bring in a covert small tactical team carrying two nukes to destroy that base once and for all."
Chan reluctantly asks, "General, if I may ask, just who are you planning to lead the assault?"
Jackson smiles and replies, "I already know what you're going to say sir, but I will be only piloting the support fighter. I'll be using Mohammed to lead the assault team into their base."
Chan sternly replies, "No my son, you must find another person to pilot the mission. You must remain, and coordinate the search. Your friend Caleb sacrificed everything, and planned an entire civilization to make sure you lived, and this is far too dangerous a mission for you to undertake."
Tess speaks up, "I'll lead the mission. My ship has a much more advanced cloaking device, more so than anything you have. Besides, we have phase shifting technology, and that will allow us the chance to get on and off their base undetected."
Chan curious asks, "Shouldn’t you lead your ships in the search of these gateways"
Tess replies, "This base is a threat to my people as much as it is to your people, and Jackson is right, it needs to be destroyed. As for my worlds fleet, my elder brother will command them."
Gaul adds, "Since you have made the gateway jamming technology available to our people as well. I should easily be able to convince a few of the other Paladonian sects to assist in finding these two gateways."
Baker confused replies, "Mr. Gaul, we have not shared that technology yet, and we wouldn’t, not without an assurance that your people would help."
Val unconcerned, speaks up, "I already gave the plans to the Paladonian’s, Madam President. I gave it to them along with the sensor enhancements."
Jackson lowers his head, asking, "Val, why did you do that, without asking first?"
Val unphased replies, "I don't know Jacks, you said to set up the sensor enhancements, so I was explaining the plans to them, and showed them the gateway jammer plans as well."
Chan interrupts, "Well, this is an issue for another time. We need to focus on these gateways first, and preventing them from sending more of them."
Jackson says to Tess, "I will be sending Val with you then, as his knowledge would be of immeasurable value in helping completing the mission.” Hope he can keep himself together, and stay out of trouble.
Chan concerned interrupts, "Son, I think Val and his new found gifts would be best used in setting up the jamming system, to prevent the T-Challa gateways from operating within our solar system."
Val speaks up, "Even with me there mister Secretary, it will still take six months at best to build the device. So my presence is best served in destroying that T-Challa base."
Chan asks, "Well, they have two of these gateways currently heading to our system, can we be absolutely sure there are no others that we may have not detected?
Val replies, "Gateway energy is almost impossible to mask, if they had brought others through. We would have record of it, and if they activate them anywhere within our sensor range. We will find them in just minutes. Currently, taking into consideration that they are moving at their top speed, it will take three or more weeks till they exceed our current sensor range."
Jackson also adds, "They are at best a few days away from us. They will have to travel cloaked, which as you know slows us down considerably, but the T-Challa are already slow to start with, so they are moving at such a slow rate. We should be able to find them in a few days."
Gaul states, "Hopefully we can find them before they activate their gateway. We'll contact our people, and get as much assistance as possible. Your good faith in releasing the jamming technology will go far with getting their assistance."
The meeting adjourns as Tess and Gaul once again head back to their respective support ships on the Yorktown’s main hangar.
Gaul privately says to Tess, "I’m starting to like this Jackson. It is a shame we must betray him like this."
Tess says,
"Gaul, don’t betray him. Let’s just tell the council it can’t be done."
Gaul lowers his head and says, "Tess, if only it was that easy."
The following morning, Jackson wakes early. He sits up from his sleep. He glances over to his wife Qui Shi, she is lying beside him, sound asleep. He stares at her for a few moments, and turns upward as he looks up at his domed plasma clear ceiling. There he sees the stars streak by from above his quarters. Then he is finally able to take in the past events. My god everything is happening so fast. So damn fast. Caleb is gone, and he's not. Scott dies, Val becomes this emotionless genius, and now we have a whole new set of human players. Are they going to help us, or do they have their own agenda? Then I find out Cale gave our son the same knowledge he gave to Val, and finally, I'm supposed to be this great leader. So much so, that Cale created an entire civilization just to make sure I don't die. Just to make sure Carla never faces the T-Challa’s Queen. Damn it Cale, I wish you were here. This cryptic crap was your cup of tea. I prefer it plain and simple.
Qui Shi quietly wakes. She sees Jackson staring out into space, and knowing how her husband thinks, asks, "You finally slowing down enough to take it all in Andrew?"
Jackson turns around and says to his wife with a smile, "Yeah, I haven't let myself have the chance to let it all soak in till now, and it’s pretty ugly."
Qui Shi smiles back and says, "Caleb did so much just to ensure you survived. To continue on, and protect his daughter Carla."
Jackson sighs and says, "That jack ass. He put me in a bottle. I can’t do anything without possibly endangering the future, and besides Qui Shi, it wasn’t just for me. He also had the Paladonian’s save his son and wife, so it’s not all about me."
Qui Shi confused asks, "Emily and Domingo are alive?"
Jackson turns back to the stars and says, "Yeah, sorry about that. So much going on, I guess I forgot to tell you about that."
The Ocoda Chronicles Book 2 Lost Heroes Page 9
