No Technology Is Invincible (The Death Prophecies-Book Four 4) (12 page)

“And just how are we going to have enough time to do that?”

“I want to have a meeting with you and your team of Advisors. I’ll have my Senior Admirals with me and we’ll discuss what options are open to us. Where would you like to hold the meeting?”

The Supreme Leader looked weary, “I’m willing to come to you but it will take us much longer to arrive than it would for you to come here.”

“I agree. I’ll gather my leaders and we’ll come to your planet in two days. Is that satisfactory?”

“It is. I’ll have the meeting facility set up prior to your arrival. I’m sending you the coordinates of the planet where it will take place now.”

Steve looked at his panel and saw the coordinates appear. He looked up and smiled, “We’ll see you then.” The display went dark. He pressed two buttons on his console and said, “Carol, I want Admiral Eagle and Captain Bartoli to report to my office immediately. I want you to also have my three fleet admirals to report to attend as well.”

“What about the Senior Admirals, Sir?”

“I’ll update them on what’s happening once I complete this meeting.” Carol disappeared from his display and he sat back in his chair. The Intelligence report on the two warring species in the Builder’s Galaxy had been sent to all of the highest ranking officers and he needed to hear what they had to say. Things didn’t look good.

• • •

Gabe arrived at Steve’s office first and Steve motioned him to a chair beside him, “Come and sit up here with me. You’re going to have to answer any questions I can’t.”

Gabe nodded, “Yes, Sir.”

Amy, Heinrik, and Janell came in ten minutes later and Steve motioned them to sit at the table in front of his desk. Ten minutes after they arrived, a young woman walked in and Steve looked at her, “I’m sorry, Captain, but this is a closed meeting.”

The woman lifted her wrist unit, stared at it, and looked at Steve, “I have a message that I was to report to a meeting here.”

Steve’s eyes narrowed and Gabe said, “Gabby?”

The woman looked at him and said, “Yes, Sir.”

Steve tried to hide his shock but didn’t quite pull it off. He pointed to a chair beside Gabe, “I’m sorry, Captain Bartoli, I didn’t recognize you.”

“It’s alright, Sir. I’ve made a few changes.”

• • •

Janell stared at the black haired woman and her mouth fell open. She looked at Amy whose eyes were bigger than hers. They looked at each other and Amy said, “Hey, you’re on your own now.”

• • •

Gabby walked up on the raised dais and sat down beside Gabe. He leaned toward her and quietly said where only she could hear, “You corrected your vision.”

Gabby nodded, “I also had my hair cut and I’ve decided to wear uniforms that fit. Poul was right.”

“About what?”

“Flying in a warship has been the most thrilling moments of my entire life.”

“Whose idea was it to use makeup?”

Gabby turned red, “The stylist who cut my hair insisted I was too pretty not to wear it and told me it was stupid not to.”

Gabe smiled at her, “She was right. She did a good job.” Gabby turned away and her face grew even redder.

Janell saw Gabe whispering to the Captain and knew she was ridiculous being jealous but she couldn’t help it. She looked at Amy again and saw she was deliberately not looking at her. She forced a neutral expression and saw that Gabe was also avoiding looking at her.

Steve looked at his War Admirals and said, “All of you have examined the report from Intelligence?” The attendee’s nodded, except for Gabby. Steve stared at her, “You haven’t read it Captain?”

“I helped them write it, Sir.”

Steve snickered, “Yes, I suppose you did.”

Gabby’s head went back in confusion, “Sir?”

“The report is much better than what we normally receive.”

Heinrik nodded, “Thank the Creator for that. This was one I could follow.”

Steve smiled, “The reason I’ve called you here is to let you know that all of you will be going with me to Andromeda in two days to meet with the Supreme Leader and his Advisors to devise a plan on what we’re going to do next.”

Amy leaned forward, “Is it a good idea to send all of us, Sir?”

“Yes it is, Admiral. We are allies now and they’re in the same boat we are. I want the three of you to meet and come up with a plan on how we can possibly confront these two species without losing the war.” Amy, Janell, and Heinrik nodded. Steve turned to Gabe and Gabby, “I want the two of you to put your heads together and tell me what’s going to happen in the Builder’s Galaxy.”

Gabe looked at Steve and then looked at Gabby, who shrugged. He turned back to Steve and said, “Yes, Sir.”

“We’ll discuss what you come up with on the flight to Andromeda. All of you have full access to all of the various departments in this building. Make good use of them and be prepared to discuss your findings with me in two days. Any questions?”

Amy stood up, “Sir, why don’t you have all five of us working on it together?”

“Because Admiral Eagle and Bartoli were in that galaxy and I need to know what’s going to happen. I need the three of you to come up with a plan of attack on how to meet either of those civilizations.”

Amy sat down, “Yes, Sir.”

Steve stared at them and said, “That’s all; get out of here and go to work.”

The five officers stood up and exited the room. The three War Admirals stopped outside the door and went to Gabe and welcomed him home. Amy punched him on the arm, “Why haven’t you come by and said hello?”

“I’ve been stuck in debriefing since two hours after I arrived.”

Heinrik shook his head, “I know that can be a pain.” He looked at Gabby, “I’ve not met you before.”

Gabby smiled, “I know who you are, Admiral. You’re one of our heroes.”

Heinrik smiled, “Why thank you. I’ve heard that you’re as smart as Gabe.”

Gabby looked at Gabe as she said, “Oh no one is as smart as Admiral Eagle. Just ask him.”

The three admirals burst out laughing and Gabe said, “Touché.” He looked at Heinrik, “She’s being modest, Heinrik. I don’t have anything on her in the brains department.”

Janell walked up to Gabby, “I’m Admiral Dobson and I’m proud of what the two of you accomplished on your scouting mission.” Gabby looked at her and her eyes went wide. Janell’s head went back, “Is something wrong, Captain.”

“No, Sir. I’ve just never seen anyone as beautiful as you are. I’ve heard you were pretty but that word doesn’t do you justice.”

Janell stared into Gabby’s eyes and said, “You’re kidding me, right?”

“No, Sir, I’m not.”

Janell saw the innocence in Gabby’s eyes and smiled, “Captain, you just made my day. Thank you.”

Gabe stared at Janell and didn’t like the formal tone she took with Gabby initially. He looked at Gabby and said, “We need to go to the Science Building.”

Gabby shook her head, “I think we should go to the Weapon’s Lab first.”

Gabe’s eyes narrowed and then he started nodding, “You’re right, I didn’t think of that. Let’s go to work.”

The two of them walked off and Amy started shaking her head, “Didn’t think of what?” She looked at Janell and Heinrik, “Do either of you get the feeling those two are from a different planet or something?”

Janell watched them enter the elevator and saw them talking. She knew that Gabe was no longer on the same planet with her. She had lost him. And just like Dillon, it was all her fault.

• • •

Gabby entered the elevator with Gabe and said, “Admiral Dobson doesn’t like me.”

Gabe looked at her, “It has nothing to do with you.”

“Get real, I know after a lifetime of seeing it, she does not like me.”

“Admiral Dobson and I were engaged.”

Gabby looked at him, “And you let her get away! She’s drop dead gorgeous!”

“She broke off the engagement.”

“Oh.”

Gabe waited and Gabby stared at the elevator wall. “You’ve got nothing to say about that?”

Gabby shrugged, “You were lucky to have her. She can have anyone she wants.” Gabe stared at her with his mouth slightly open and then he started laughing. Gabby looked at him, “What’s so funny?”

“You’re right.”

Gabby shrugged, “You know I am most of the time.” Gabe laughed harder. Gabby didn’t mince her words. You never had to worry about where you stood with her or what she was thinking. He exited the elevator and wondered why Janell didn’t like Gabby. One would think she would be happy that Gabe was spending time with another woman. Well, occupying the same space. Spending time with Gabby just…didn’t happen.

Gabby exited the elevator and knew that Gabe was out of reach. She sighed and followed him to the shuttle.

• • •

The five admirals and Steve sat on temporary chairs installed on the Prophet’s Eyes’ bridge. Gabe sat in the command chair and Gabby sat at her console behind him. Janell kept looking between them and didn’t see any real affection between them. She wondered about that. This Ugly Duckling had really bloomed into a pretty young woman.

Gabe should have been attracted to her…but he didn’t show anything that would lead her to believe it was happening. Steve looked away from the wall monitor, “I thought we would have some time to discuss your ideas on the trip to Andromeda but it appears we’ll be arriving in thirty minutes, which really doesn’t allow us time to get started. Just be prepared to present your findings during the meeting.”

“Admiral, is this the first time we’ve been to a Darkness Planet?”

“Yes, it is, Amy. I’m curious to see what it looks like and how their society functions.” Steve looked at Gabe, “Have the two of you worked out what we can expect from the Builders and that Black Ship Civilization?”

“We think so. At least we’ve come up with several options that seem likely.”

“Without going into detail, what’s the general feel?”

“It’s not good.”

Steve sighed, “I hate hearing that.” Steve sat back in his chair and glanced at the wall monitor. The Andromeda Galaxy was growing on the screen at an incredible speed. The Prophet’s Eyes was advanced beyond any ship in the fleet. Nothing could match its speed and he wished there was a way to use its technology on the rest of the EB Alliance warships.

• • •

Amy looked at Heinrik, “I’ve heard rumors that you and China are an item.”

Heinrik jerked his head around, “Where did you hear that?”

“Actually, I haven’t but your reaction tells me there’s something going on.”

Heinrik rolled his eyes and chuckled, “You are the tricky one.”

Gabe turned around, “Is she right?”

Heinrik looked at Gabe and sighed, “Yes, she is. China and I are…Uhhh…interested in each other.”

Gabe smiled, “She’s a good match for you, Heinrik, congratulations.”

“What about you, Gabe?”

Gabe stared at Heinrik and chuckled, “Boy, Amy has nothing on you. I’m too busy to think about starting a relationship.” Amy glanced at Janell and saw her face was red; however, she did notice a small smile on her face.”

Heinrik turned to Gabby, “Since we’re all being nosey, are you interested in anyone, Captain?”

Gabby shrugged, “I really think it’s more of a question of if anyone is interested in me.”

Gabe smiled, “I seem to remember at least ten men at the Weapons Lab and Science Building asking you out to dinner.”

Gabby waved her hand at him, “They just wanted to pick my brain about our scouting mission. They weren’t interested in me.”

Amy looked at her, “Captain, how many men in the past asked you to dinner to pick your brain?”

Gabby looked at her and after a moment said, “None.”

“It seems to me there was more going on than just professional curiosity.”

Gabby’s eyes narrowed as she innocently asked, “Do you really think so?”

Amy laughed, “Yes, I do.”

Gabby answered under her breath, “I may need to take some of them up on their requests.”

Gabe smiled, “I think you should. That young scientist didn’t want to give up.”

Gabby shrugged, “He was persistent.” Gabby looked at Janell, “What about you, Admiral?”

Janell quickly glanced at Gabe and said, “What about me?”

“I understand you and Gabe are no longer together. Have you found someone else to take your interest?”

Gabe looked up at the ceiling and rolled his eyes, “Gabby, that’s not an appropriate question considering the present company.”

Gabby looked at him and shrugged, “I told you I’m socially inept and always say the wrong thing at the right time.” She looked at Janell, “I apologize, Admiral and withdraw my question.”

Janell shrugged, “I’m not ready for another relationship.”

Steve listened to the exchanges and said, “Let’s focus on the meeting, shall we. We can play love connection another time.”

Janell looked at Amy, “You started it!”

“No I didn’t.”

Heinrik looked at her, “Yes you did, Amy.”

Amy tilted her head to the left and Janell whispered to her, “Troublemaker.”

Amy smiled and said, “Yep.”

• • •

“Admiral Connor, I’ve been given clearance to the planet. We’ll be moving into orbit momentarily.”

“Poul, take it slower than normal. I want to take a look at the planet as we approach. Have you activated the magnetic field so they can see you?”

“Yes, Sir, I did that as soon as I moved inside a light year. I’ll feed images to the main monitor as we approach.”

The six stared at the monitor and Janell looked at Steve, “They look very much like humans, Sir.”

“Except for their green color and narrow eyes, they do. I suspect their physiology is different but they appear to be very much like us.”

“Do you know how long their civilization has been around?”

Steve turned towards Heinrik, “They were an advanced culture with starships when humans were just starting to live in caves. They’re much older than us.”

“Do they represent a threat, Sir?”

“Why do you ask that, Amy?”

“These images show structures on their planet that make ours look like children built them. Those gravity towers around the planet are huge.”

Steve looked at the monitor as he said, “We were far behind them technologically until our ships went through the change. It is the black hole that is the great equalizer. However, I think our two cultures have moved past any aggression toward each other. Now we’re working on coming up with a plan to defend our species.”