Ian was puzzled, “Why would you want that done?”
Dee looked at Ian and said, “Armageddon.”
Doc looked at Ian and saw he didn’t like that answer either.
• • •
Union Ships were sent to the edge of M87 where the giant fleet was being assembled and released hundreds of advanced scanners. Ship construction in both the Union and Kilper civilizations continued at a frenetic pace and it soon became clear that the invasion was still months away.
• • •
Argel looked at Cole, “I think we need to talk.”
“About what?”
“Our future.”
Cole looked shocked and pushed his chair back from his station, “Are you wanting to leave?”
Argel saw his fear and shook her head, “No, nothing like that; I just need to know what your thoughts are about where we’re going with this.”
“I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you, Argel.”
“Then we need to get married.”
“Will you marry me?”
“Of course you big goof ball.”
Cole thought a moment and said, “Why do we NEED to get married?”
Argel stared at Cole and said, “I’m pregnant.” Cole’s expression underwent several metamorphoses and Argel watched them. The last one was the one she expected, “Yes, you’re the father.”
“How is that possible?”
“You need to figure that out. I have no idea how but I know I am. You’re the only one I’ve been with.”
“Argel, we’re two different species. This isn’t possible.”
“Tell it to our baby.”
Cole rushed to her chair and put his arms around her, “I’ll marry you today.”
“Tomorrow might be better. I suspect this announcement might cause some disruption among our civilizations.”
“Before we do that, we need to have you examined to make sure.”
“Oh, I’m sure.”
“We still need to see. We’re going to need proof for the King.”
Argel sighed and then nodded. Three hours later the medical scanning computer verified it. The baby was a product of two species. Cole took Argel to the King and had him marry them on the spot. The King did it because he was in a state of shock. A day later he told them they were going to have to do it again.
“Why?”
“Cole, this announcement has caused a firestorm in the Kilper and Union civilizations.”
“What do you mean?”
“There has continued to be a sense of mistrust between our species after all the death that happened when we were fighting each other. Now they learn that we are not only allies but brothers and sisters genetically. Your marriage will solidify our alliance. The citizens of both civilizations need to see this ceremony.”
Argel looked at Cole and then slowly nodded. Cole turned to the King and said, “We’ll do what needs to be done, Your Majesty.”
Argel said, “The wedding will take place on the planet where Cole took me after the conference.”
The King looked at her and said, “Why there?”
“That’s where our child was conceived. It’s also a lesson that all of us need to see and remember.”
The King nodded and contacted the First Councilor.
• • •
The First sat in his office and said, “Sit down, Admiral.” The Admiral sat and the First poured him a glass of dark liquid and handed it to him. They took a sip, grimaced, blew out a breath, and leaned back in their chairs. “What do you think about this, Admiral?”
“I’m stunned by the announcement.”
“But what do you think?”
“We have found another family.”
“Did you ask the Hub what it thought would happen as a result of this information?”
“I did.”
“And?”
“Within a hundred years all of our planets will have both species living together.” The Admiral paused and said, “The Union’s worlds will also have both species living on them.”
“How did it arrive at that conclusion?”
“Because both species finds the other one exotic; you’ve seen their females.”
The First shook his head, “They do have a way of capturing one’s attention.”
“Now the only obstacle to our species coming together has been removed. We are all in this together.”
“I wonder what their child is going to look like.”
“If I had to guess, I think she’s going to be beautiful.”
“She?”
“Yes, the medical scanner confirmed that it’s going to be a female.”
“Have they decided on a name?”
The Admiral smiled, “They’re going to name her Harmony Argen Montgomery.”
The First smiled. Sometimes, everyone gets it right.
D
oc looked at Dee, “Do you sense anything?”
“There’s going to be a problem?”
“I hate it when you say that.”
“Something will be different this time.”
“Should we go?”
“We have no choice.”
“Drey, keep the FTL Drive hot.”
“First sign of aggression, I’m outta there.”
“Notify Ian we’re ready to go.”
“He and Violet are arriving momentarily.”
Doc said, “We’re risking a lot here. We can’t afford to lose Ian.”
“I don’t sense that happening.”
“How would you know?”
Dee shook her head, “I just…don’t see it.”
Doc stared at her and said, “If we make it back I was wondering if you would consider changing our contract.”
Dee jerked around and said, “What do you mean?”
“Well, currently it’s only good until the end of this war.”
“Yeah, so what?”
“I was wondering if you might consider an extension.”
“An extension; how long?”
“Uhh, the rest of our lives; I was wondering if you might consider marrying me.”
“Of all the hair brained, idiotic, moronic things you could say, you had to say this now.”
“I guess that’s a no.”
“Doc, I’ll marry you right now. You’re forcing me to wait.” Doc started smiling and then he laughed. “What’s so funny?”
“Life with you is going to be so exciting.” Dee rushed over and Ian and Violet found them in the same chair.
“Are we interrupting something?”
Dee jumped up and Doc said, “Dee has just agreed to be my wife.”
Violet smiled and said, “Well congratulations are in order. This is wonderful.”
Ian looked at Doc and said, “Maybe it could be a double wedding.”
Doc looked at Dee and said, “Who else is getting married?”
Ian said, “Violet and I, if she’ll agree to have me.” Violet turned to Ian and he smiled, “I do love you, Violet.”
Violet stared at Ian and said in a quivering voice, “Are you sure about this?”
“Just look in my heart and you’ll know.”
Violet went into Ian’s arms and Dee said, “Now aren’t you really ticked off that we don’t have time to really celebrate this moment because of this mission?”
Violet stepped back and said, “As a matter of fact, I am.”
Ian looked at Doc, “Maybe we should have waited to ask.”
Violet punched him on his arm, “We’ll make up for it when we get back.”
Ian rubbed his arm and said, “She doesn’t know her own strength.”
Doc said, “Dee senses there might be an issue.”
Violet and Ian both looked quickly at Dee, “I don’t know what it is. Just be aware that something is going on.”
Drey announced, “It’s time to go.”
Doc turned and said, “Pull up a chair. I think we might be surprised by what’s waiting at the end of this jump.” Violet and Ian sat down in their secondary control chairs and Doc pushed the jump control. What awaited them exceeded anything they expected.
• • •
The Green Ship Controller didn’t like having the Sovereign so close to the border but he had insisted. He had ordered a hundred ships between his vessel and the border but the Sovereign had ordered them moved. He looked at his Subcontroller and saw him roll his head to the left. What good were two hundred thousand ships if none of them were between the enemy and the Sovereign?
• • •
The Grey Commander was also frustrated. The Leader of the assembly also insisted on being close to the anticipated arrival point. Why couldn’t their leaders understand their reasons for caution? Suddenly the small Green Ship appeared and he looked at his third officer. The officer stared at his panel and then looked up and shook his head. Good, it wasn’t shielded.
• • •
Doc and Dee looked at the hundreds of thousands of warships and were shocked at the display. Dee lifted the portable communicator and said, “I didn’t think we would draw this large a crowd.”
The Green Ambassador chuckled and said, “We really didn’t know what to expect.”
“You only invited us; we wouldn’t show bad manners by bringing anyone else.”
“Even so, one never knows.”
Dee shook her head, “I guess you’re right about that.”
“I have brought our Leader to lead this discussion.”
“I have also brought one that speaks for our civilization.”
The Sovereign said, “Gedna, feel free to enter the conversation at the time of your choosing.”
“Thank you, Sovereign.”
• • •
Dee looked at Ian and said, “There is a large Orange Ship holding station outside the Grey Ships. It’s one of those ship types that were involved in the first planned invasion.”
Ian nodded and waited for the aliens to speak.
• • •
The Sovereign said, “I understand that you wanted us to ask those that are planning to attack you to not do it.”
Ian saw Dee nod and he said, “It really would end a lot of issues if they wouldn’t.”
“We have been contacted by the leader of that effort and invited him here so you could ask him yourself.”
Ian smiled and said, “We welcome the opportunity.”
A voice came over the speaker and they all heard the contempt in the speaker’s voice, “I don’t think you can say anything that would change my mind.”
Ian’s expression changed, “I assume you are the one that killed the Black Civilization in the other galaxy.”
“I am.”
“The Black Civilization made a critical mistake.”
“They came here.”
“Exactly, and as a result of jumping into an unknown situation, it led to their destruction. You’re about to do the same thing.”
There was a moment of silence, “We’re different from that civilization.”
“In what way? Do you know what awaits you in our galaxy? You’re going in blind assuming victory; just as the Black Ships did here.”
“I’ve seen your ships and though they’re different, they’re not powerful enough to defeat my forces.”
“How many ships do we have?” Silence greeted the question. “How many planets do we have?” Again there was silence. Ian said, “The universe is filled with more galaxies than can be counted. Why go to one that you know is not defenseless? We are not an aggressive civilization and represent no danger to your worlds here. We will agree to never violate your space and will come to your defense if you are ever attacked. It doesn’t make good sense to attack us.”
“When would we ever be attacked?”
“You need only look at those billions of galaxies. One never knows where an enemy may originate.”
“You attacked my fleets and destroyed more than five million ships.”
“Those ships were organizing to attack my galaxy. We attacked to defend ourselves.”
“You will pay for that aggression.”
Ian thought a moment and said, “If I were to pull a blaster and point it at you, are you entitled to shoot me first?” Silence followed the question. Ian said, “Who was the aggressor? The one that pulled the blaster first or the one that fired in self-defense?”
“This conversation is over. You should prepare to die.”
Dee said, “Do you know what we’re going to do in the event that you are able to destroy our planets?”
“It won’t matter. None of you will survive.”
“You might be right about our planets but how many ships manage to escape major battles? We have loaded every ship type that was in the fleet organizing to attack us into all of our warships. If you succeed in killing our planets, the survivors have been ordered to come here and find the planets of those ships and start destroying them until you’re able to destroy our ships.”
“One ship can’t destroy a planet.”
“One of our ships can blast a planet into fragments with one beam and it will be able to escape faster than you can imagine. You should really think about this before you unleash this horror on your worlds. We don’t want to have to do this.”
“You’re pitiful in you deceit.” The Orange Ship disappeared.
Silence ruled the frequency and after a minute they heard, “I told you they didn’t listen to us. At least they are consistent.” Another pause and the Sovereign said, “Are you being honest about destroying a planet?”
Ian thought a moment and said, “We do not deceive, Sovereign.”
The Gedna said, “There is an uninhabited planet seven light years away. I would like to see you demonstrate this ability.”
Ian looked at Doc and he slashed his hand across his throat. Ian turned off the communicator and Doc said, “This is not something you can avoid. If you don’t do it they’ll know you’re capable of deceit and if you do it they may fear us enough to join them.”
Ian looked at Dee and she opened her eyes, “Destroy the planet.”
Ian turned the communicator back on, “We did not come here to fire weapons of war but to avoid doing this will cause you to believe that we are capable of not telling the truth. We will do this if you want.”
The Sovereign looked at his son and said, “We need to know.” The Royal said, “We would like permission to enter your borders to observe this demonstration.”
“You no longer need permission; our borders no longer exist. Your ships are welcome in our territory.” The Gedna paused and looked at the Ship Commander who looked at his navigator who nodded, “I’m sending you the coordinates of the planet.”
Ian said, “I will not raise my force field. I’ll only energize one beam.”
“We will meet you at the planet.”
Ian shut off the communicator, “Are we able to destroy a planet?”
Doc shook his head, “Now’s a fine time to ask.”
Drey said, “I don’t know if we can fragment a planet but the Boson Blaster should do tremendous damage.”
Ian said, “Drey, it’s only an inch wide.”