“At sixty miles it’s a foot wide; it’s more than eight hundred miles wide at ten thousand miles.”
“Will it hold together that far out?”
“I’ll use the entire collector to fire it.”
Ian looked at Doc, who shrugged, “Take us to the planet.”
Drey jumped to the coordinates and saw a small planet hanging in space. It was little more than bare rock and did not have an atmosphere. They heard, “You may proceed.”
The Grey and Green Fleets were hanging in space about twenty thousand miles from the planet. Drey moved to ten thousand miles from the planet’s surface and energized the forward Boson Blaster. Doc said, “Drey, what do you think is going to happen?”
“How would I know?”
Doc rolled his eyes and everyone looked at the display. Doc lifted the cover from the firing mechanism and said, “I guess we’re going to find out.”
• • •
The Controller said, “You are recording?”
“I am.”
• • •
The brilliant blue beam shot out of the nose of the Union ship and hit the planet. Analysis after the fact indicated that if the planet had an atmosphere the beam might not have been as effective. But it didn’t. The beam hit in an eight hundred mile wide circle and blew through the center of the planet and out the other side. All of the matter it contacted immediately released all of its energy in a nuclear explosion. The planet didn’t fragment; it blew apart in a massive explosion that scattered it outward in a massive shockwave. Every ship jumped away to avoid the onrushing debris from the planet’s explosion. They all reassembled back at the original location.
• • •
Ian listened but only silence greeted him. He thought about what to say and struggled. Dee pressed the communicator and said, “I know what you’re thinking. You’re afraid of what you’ve just seen but you’re wrong to think that way.”
The Sovereign was shocked speechless. His son said, “Why?”
“We do not deceive. We were being honest when we said that we would come and defend you against any enemy that attacks you. You should think about having that beam being used to protect you.”
“How can we know you’re being honest?”
“There’s only one way.”
“And that is?”
“You have to trust. Just as we’ll have to trust that you won’t attack or attempt to cause us harm.”
“We can’t stop the others from invading your galaxy.”
“We know and we don’t blame you for it. You will be safe from any action we take to defend our civilizations.”
The Sovereign listened and said, “Gedna, we are going to agree to never attack them.”
“We will also honor the agreement.”
Ian took a deep breath and said, “We wish you long life and we thank you for allowing us to come and communicate with you.”
• • •
The small Green Ship disappeared and the Gedna said, “Are you going to share this with Zemmar?”
The Sovereign shook his shoulders, “And spare them what they have coming, no I’m not.”
“It might stop them from invading.”
“Perhaps, but I suspect he would keep it to himself. He’s power mad and nothing is going to prevent him from moving forward. He wants to be the all-powerful ruler of a galaxy and his ego will push him forward.”
“You know that he’s really trying to gather enough strength to take us on.”
“I suspect our recent visitor might do something about that.”
The Gedna smiled, “One can only hope.”
The Controller listened to his leaders communicate and couldn’t get the image of the exploding planet out of his mind. His superiority complex was undergoing an adjustment. Perhaps in future encounters it might be better to communicate first.
• • •
Violet looked at Ian, “Did you know that was going to happen?” Ian shook his head. “Will our beams be that powerful against a normal sized planet?”
“No, they won’t do as much damage.”
Violet looked up and said, “I didn’t know you were listening in, Moe.”
“I was following this in Dee’s thoughts, although I must say they’re somewhat muddled with Doc’s proposal.”
Dee said, “Moe, you need to mind your own business.”
“Oh, did I do something wrong?”
Doc looked at Dee and she said, “This is so sudden, I’m hoping you really mean it.”
Doc shook his head, “It’s all I’ve thought about for months. I was worried that you wouldn’t accept after what you originally said.”
“Things change, Doc.”
“I guess they do.”
Violet said, “Let’s get back to the question. What do you mean, Moe?”
“That planet had nothing to buffer the beam before it hit the planet’s surface. A planet with an atmosphere would greatly weaken the Boson Beam before it hit the surface.”
“Oh…so it wouldn’t destroy the planet?”
“No, it would ignite the atmosphere and burn the entire surface but it wouldn’t blow it apart.”
Violet rolled her eyes and said, “I meant to imply that it wouldn’t kill everything on the surface.”
“It won’t; some bacteria would survive and the oceans would remain for the most part after the beam strike.”
“What do you mean for the most part?”
“They would probably lose about a half a mile of depth but some sea life would remain in the lower depths until the atmosphere dissipated. Once that happened, the oceans would freeze.”
Violet looked at Ian and he said, “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“Would we do it?”
Doc said, “I would.”
Violet looked at Doc, “Yeah, but you’re different.”
“If you say so.”
“You are, Doc.”
Doc looked at Ian, “If all of our worlds were blasted, would you just let it go or would you go after their worlds? Assume Violet was killed in their attack.”
Ian stared at Doc, looked at Violet, and then said, “I’d burn them to bedrock at every opportunity.”
Dee said, “So would I.”
Violet stared at them and Doc said, “Imagine Ian was killed while defending our planets.”
Violet’s expression changed three times and she said, “Someone would pay.”
Doc tilted his head, “I’m just saying; our surviving ships won’t be any different. You know how fast our ships can emerge, fire, and jump or fly away at light speed. Oh there will be massive payment for their actions if they succeed.”
Ian said, “Why wait?” Doc looked at him and moved his head back, “Now you’re starting to scare me.”
“Why?”
“You’re supposed to keep me in check; you’re sounding like me.”
Ian stared at Doc and after a moment said, “Send a ship out and have it release a thousand more advanced sensors outside that galaxy. We have the frequency of his ship. Have the sensors programmed to find the location of the planets where those Orange Ships are located. Once they’re found, have them find the capital.”
Violet looked at Ian, “What are you going to do?”
“The moment their ships come here, we’re going to hit that planet.”
Doc looked at them and said, “I’ll do it.”
“No, we need you leading our fleets against them.”
“Then let me find a suitable ship to make it happen.”
“Knock your lights out. Just make sure they’ll do it.”
“Trust me, I know what it takes.”
• • •
Cole’s and Argel’s wedding was viewed by both civilizations. There were thousands of dignitaries present and the moment that touched the hearts of all the populations was the First Councilor’s speech blessing the wedding and declaring the planet a memorial to remind his people of the evil inherent in slavery. He vowed to make sure his leadership would do everything possible to make up for the horror and evil his civilization had caused. He also vowed that slavery would never be allowed in the galaxy again.
The viewers saw he was sincere and meant what he said. For the billions that suffered under the Kilper domination they started to find peace. They were now members of the new Galactic Union and saw their future looked brighter. The marriage of Cole and Argel symbolized that union and all of the hundreds of thousands of planets felt their resolve grow to defend the new alliance. Ship construction surged and the numbers of warships accelerated. The numbers of citizens joining the fleets also saw a remarkable surge as well.
• • •
Doc sat in Cole’s office on Euclid and looked at the two officers sitting in front of his desk. The Kilper was big, even for a tall species. The human female was average size but had the same black hair and blue eyes that Dee possessed. Doc stared at them and said, “Your commanders have discussed what we need you to do.”
The Kilper said, “They have, Sir.”
“You’ve been chosen to do this for several reasons.” Doc turned to the Kilper, “You’ve demonstrated in the last two fleet actions that you will do your duty.” The Kilper nodded. “I was impressed that you attacked ten ships alone when one of your squadrons was in danger.”
“Those ships were coming here to attack my family. I will miss not being present to attack them if they come here.”
Doc smiled, “You should get back in time to participate.”
The woman said, “Why was I chosen?”
Doc looked at her and saw steel in her face, ‘You are one of the Santa Rosa telepaths. We need you there to allow us to communicate.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“No; you’re also impossible to work with and are as hardheaded as any officer in the Navy. I know you’ll do what has to be done.”
The Kilper looked at her and then said, “Who is in command of this mission?”
“You are.”
The woman said, “And why is that?”
“Because if you were; you would run him off in about an hour.”
She stared at Doc for a long moment and said, “Just checking, Sir.”
Doc looked at the two of them and knew they had not met each other before the meeting. If this didn’t work, they wouldn’t have to stay together longer than the mission. “The scanners have located the vicinity of the Orange Ships territory and are now looking for the Capital. We’ll send that to you as soon as it comes in. Once we have it, you need to jump your ship out and make your plans. We’ll notify you if we need you to proceed. You’re dismissed.”
The two jumped to attention, saluted, did an about face, and left the office. Once they were outside the woman started complaining, “I don’t see why you have to be in command. I could have done it. I’m also a pilot.”
The Kilper turned to her, “My name is Kregen.”
She stared at him for a moment and said, “I’m Marissa.”
“I didn’t make this decision; however, you and I are going to have to resolve how we’re going to work together. I will not take action without your advice and input. We should agree on what we should do and attempt to come up with the best strategy. You are a partner in this mission and I’m going to need you working with me to make it succeed.”
Marissa stared at the Kilper and said, “What happens if we can’t agree?”
“Then I will have to make the best decision I can based on what we’ve discussed. I need your agreement that if that happens, you’ll give me your best effort.”
Marissa saw the Kilper wasn’t being bossy. She stared at him and said, “How do you think we should go in?”
“FTL.”
Marissa smiled, “I think we’re going to get along just fine.”
Kregen said, “I really hope we do.”
Marissa said, “I’m not that bad.”
“How many navigators have you had?”
Marissa stared at him and said, “Six.”
“After three, the problem had to be you. Please think about that.” Kregen turned and walked toward the ship leaving Marissa angry but wondering if he was right.
• • •
Dee walked in the office and said, “Why did you pair her with him?”
“Do you think a human male would last?”
Dee tilted her head back and forth and said, “Probably not.”
“I’m hoping they’re different enough that they will at least respect that difference long enough to make this happen.”
“It’s a shame she’s such a pill.” Doc smiled and Dee said, “Don’t even think I was that hard to get along with.” Doc continued to smile. “I wasn’t that bad!”
“One of our ancient philosophers said it well; know thy self.” Dee started tapping her foot and Doc said, “Dom gave me some footage of the two of you working with the flight crews at the main space port. You might want to take a look at it.”
Dee thought back and remembered. “That’s alright. I’ll concede the point.”
Doc said, “There could be hope for her; if you could change…”
“That Kilper is not you, Doc.”
“No…he’s not. But he is courageous. She won’t be able to push him around.”
Dee went and sat in Doc’s lap, “I have this thing I need to handle…you know…a wedding.”
Doc laughed and said, “Let’s get on it.”
T
he Invasion Leader slammed his hand on his desk. Twenty scouts had been sent to the spiral galaxy and all twenty had been found and destroyed before they could start their searches. This was not a good thing. He was going to be going in blind if something didn’t change…quickly. He thought back to the meeting with the aliens from the spiral galaxy and smiled. They didn’t know they had actually given him the reason to continue with the invasion. The threat of going and destroying planets in his galaxy is exactly what he needed to happen. If they could only hit Bradet he would be back in charge. He had been removed from power and the new Leader had agreed to give him ten percent of the warships to go and form a new territory for himself in another galaxy. He was forced to make the agreement to avoid a civil war where he knew he would be outnumbered and out gunned. If he could defeat those aliens in their galaxy and somehow give them Bradet’s coordinates, he could go back and assume power. Then he would be the absolute ruler of both. But first, he had to defeat the forces in the spiral galaxy and kill their planets. He thought about it and wondered if the aliens were watching his fleets. If they were, he might be able to show them Bradet’s location. He picked up his communicator, “Admiral, I want you to start sending all of my ships back to Bradet for servicing. Send them in groups of ten and make sure they’re ready by the time all of the ships arrive for the invasion.”
“That means I will be sending a steady stream back.”