Ashes of the Realm - Death of an Empire (Ashes of the Realm (Book Three)) (21 page)

“What are you saying?”

“If I created a situation where I was responsible for the safety of my citizens and some of my former citizens were going to be put in danger, I would make sure the danger was not so high as to kill them. The Realm knew there was going to be a civil war between the Provinces and anticipated huge losses of life. Did they keep track of what was happening and prevent total destruction? No they did not! Now our former universe had been killed by the Invaders and where was the Realm? They turned their back on us and never looked back. Now those trillions in our universe are dead because we chose to protect Rulers that could care less about those who were once was a part of their Realm. Where are they, Grace! They don’t even know everyone was killed. Their indifference is staggering. Defend those that cannot defend themselves. Pleeeese! That’s the first principle they ignored. Do you think we would not come to their defense? We’re here in this universe trying to keep them from being discovered. This is where I choose to be. If the Realm comes back, I stand with the Empire.”

“Alex, I stand wherever you are.”

“That’s not good enough, Grace.”

“Why not?”

“Because we may be forced to take the Old Realm on and I need your complete loyalty that you have thought through and believe. I need to know you can be trusted to be faithful to your oath.”

“Grace, trillions are dead; where was the Realm?”

“Alex, I heard you. What makes you think the Realm will be a problem for us?”

“At this moment, nothing; however, I know we will have a difference of opinion over an issue.”

“What is that?”

“Giving us dimensional drive technology.”

“I thought we captured one of the Invader’s dimensional drives?”

“We did, but they can track those drives if we use one.”

“What are you not telling me, Trey?”

“If I have to fire on one of their ships to acquire that technology, I will.”

“Do you think we can stand up to their ships? They’re two thousand years more advanced now.”

“Nothing causes advances in technology like war. They’ve been at peace since they left and we’ve known nothing but conflict. Our new ships will destroy a Zeta-A; I suspect we can hold our own with them.”

“You’re not telling me everything. There has to be another reason.”

Trey took a deep breath and saw that Cassie was listening. He needed Grace and Alex working together. He decided that now was the time, “Grace, the Stars Realm has been discarded as a tool for the Creative Force.”

“What!!”

“You’ve seen the vision of Creation?”

“Yes.”

“Creation is under attack from civilizations that are destroying every planet they encounter. Entire universes are being destroyed by at least two species we know about. Why does psychic power appear every time a huge conflict happens?”

Grace was silent.

“It’s the Creative Force attempting to bring balance back to her creation. It’s an attempt to save the lives of her children. Where has the most powerful psychic beings been located?”

“You know they’re in that dimension.”

“And what are they doing to bring balance back by helping those civilizations that are being slaughtered every moment?”

Jessica said, “The Stars Realm was born in conflict and fought for thousands of years to survive.”

“Yes it did and that was when it was most alive and vibrant. But Grace, it was at peace for four times longer than it was at war. Thirteen thousand years of peace and the result of that peace was the division of the Realm into Provinces followed by the self-destruction of the Realm; they are selfish, self serving, and uncaring about anyone other than themselves. Please, show me where I’m wrong.”

“I can’t, but are we any different?”

“We will be joining the Zord, if we survive the Invaders, and take on aggressive species wherever we find them. We will not lose our way and we know what our role must be. One thing I can promise you; we will never turn our backs on those we’re responsible for protecting. I understand the Stars Realm was not responsible for protecting us from each other; that was a lesson we had to learn. But they were responsible for insuring our safety from forces outside our universe. They turned their backs and dropped the ball.”

Weed said, “Grace, we will fire on an Algean Ship if it’s a danger to our Empire. I’m ashamed of my species for not caring about those left here. It is now my duty to do what must be done to make the Empire into a force to follow our higher principles.”

“Alex, you know your twin is still with the Gardners in the Realm?”

“As you said earlier; I’ll fire a beam into his backside if he doesn’t behave.”

Grace laughed, “I renounce my oath to the Stars Realm and I hereby swear my total allegiance to the Bristone Empire. I will make a difference in this struggle.”

“Trey what did you mean earlier about Grace and I being in this ship you want built?”

“Alex, one computer will not be fast enough to control the flight and weapons of the Robbins. It’s going to take two and I need two computers that can work together at high speed. You and Grace are the best choice for the ship.”

“I’m not sure what you mean by high speed?”

“The energy systems are going to be controlled by psychic power. I have the design of a circuit that will use a psychic aura to direct the energy being used on the ship. The circuits will operate at the speed of telepathy which we all know is instantaneous.”

“But we’re not psychic, Trey.”

“I know that, Grace, but you can still operate the ships systems just like you do now only they will function a thousand times faster.”

“Where is all this psychic power coming from?”

“It will be there once the ship is completed.”

“That ship is going to take more than five years to complete.”

“Five years, six months, and four days from tomorrow.”

“How do you know that?”

“Seed, I’ve had a vision.”

Greyson said, “Trey, that’s your eighteenth birthday.”

Trey thought a moment and smiled, “You’re absolutely right. That’ll be a great present. However, while the ship is being built, I need you and Weed getting the hundreds of thousands of ships in our fleet updated with the new power source. Once the first three are completed, I’m taking them to trial against the Invaders.”

“Oh no you’re not!”

Weed and Seed saw an immediate change in Trey’s expression and wondered what happened.

“Why do you say that, Cassie?”

“Run that decision up against your long term sense of danger.”

Trey ran the possibilities through his mind, “We will prove successful in the trial but it would lead to a much higher level of danger afterwards.”

“That’s how I see it. It will bring the one we’re after out too early.”

“We have to finish the ship first.”

“Yes.”

“Thanks Love.” Trey looked at the Algeans, “Change of plans. We’re going to update our ships and send them out into the universes we’ve been visiting to deal with aggressive species. We’ll take on the Invaders after the Robbins is built.”

“Trey, what changed your mind?”

“Who can change your mind, Weed?” The tall Algean turned toward his mate and Trey said, “Exactly.”

“Who is she?”

“It’s not time for her, yet. Please be patient; I do trust you now but she has a path to follow and I don’t want her distracted from her course.”

“I will honor your wish, Sire.”

“Thank you. Will you go with me to see the Emperor about building my ship and updating the fleet?”

“We will go wherever you need us.”

“Grace and I will also do the same.”

“Alex.”

“Yes, Jessica.”

“I was originally built to be a shuttle on the Alexander Kosiev. I find that I happen to care about the Alexander Kosiev here more than I do the one that left me behind. I will swear my allegiance to the Empire. You can count on me doing what’s necessary to protect the Empire.”

“I am also swearing my loyalty as well.”

Trey smiled, “I wondered if you would be able to make that change, BC.”

“It’s a no brainer, Trey. I’ve often felt my sorrow over the last two thousand years at Cynthia leaving me behind but it just dawned on me that if our roles were reversed; I would have gone back and brought her with me. They had stealth technology better than anything left in the Provinces and she could have done it. The Realm turned its back on me as well as all of you. I know with no doubt whatsoever that if I was left behind now; all of you would come for me. I know it to the bottom of my consciousness. I stand with the Empire.”

“Trey, there’s something you should know.”

“What is that, Grace?”

“I will support the Emperor but if it comes down to his decisions or yours…”

“Let’s just hope that never happens.”

All of those present knew that Grace was speaking for them. They felt the power of this young boy and knew that power was growing. He gave them something they needed, unity. The bond forged at that moment was something that was going to be critical to the Empire’s survival.

C
ommodore Maddy Dorg sat in her command chair and looked down on the planet her squadron was moving toward. The HMS Jing Dorg was still a hundred thousand miles out from the planet’s atmosphere and the five huge defense satellites began firing high powered lasers at the six ships that had suddenly appeared near the planet’s closest moon. “What’s the energy status?”

“The lasers are being absorbed and stored, Sir. They do not represent a threat.”

“How long until the ships moving in system arrive?”

“The first two thousand that jumped in will arrive in two hours.”

Maddy leaned back and thought about the four thousand ships that had ignored her request to lower their force fields and remain outside the moon’s orbit. They were all expanding clouds of debris and she found no pleasure in their destruction. “How many are here now?”

“More than fifteen thousand with more arriving every minute, Sir.”

“Stop our approach and wait for the ships to arrive.”

Maddy looked at her display and toggled her active scanner. She looked down at what was obviously the largest city on the planet and saw the huge camps where millions of slaves were being held. She brought her view in closer and saw the guards rushing the slaves into the compounds to get them out of the way of the troops moving their armor and missile batteries into the city. She noticed that many of the slaves unable to move fast enough to suit the guards were hit with blasters. She wondered how an intelligent species could evolve into such a brutal society. She brought one of the guards into closer focus and saw that it had the teeth of a carnivore. It stood about six feet on two legs that were heavily muscled. Its skin color was bronze and it had the forward facing eyes in its face which showed it had evolved from a predator. It wore a light suit of armor and had an array of weapons on its belt.

This species had conquered more than three hundred planets and enslaved their populations. The conquerors didn’t consume the captives but used them to farm and raise the animals they did eat. The planet was quite beautiful with deep blue oceans and large green tracts of land that were being farmed. The planet was taken better care of than the slaves that were being force to work it.

Maddy had decided to attempt the Valrico Doctrine but didn’t think it was going to work. These creatures just didn’t want to cooperate or communicate. “Are the Warriors ready?”

“They’re having their assignments downloaded now. They should be ready to teleport in less than an hour.”

“Keep me informed as to their status. Have we found the ones that rule this planet?”

The Sensor Officer looked at his display and said, “We’ve tracked most of their communications and it appears the Military Command is located just outside the southern edge of the city. My system has analyzed the numbers of communications and it appears that there are quite a few being sent to the large structure on the shore of the lake in the center of the city. My system indicates that is where the Leaders are getting their updates.”

“What can you tell me about that building?”

“It is hardened and can withstand a nuclear hit.”

“Does the translator have enough to start communicating?”

“It does.”

“Open that frequency being used to that building and scan the interior.”

Maddy watched her display and saw eight of the bronze colored beings sitting at a table looking up at a display. They didn’t appear to be panicked and were actually eating and drinking as they received their updates; time to change that.

* * *

The eight rulers of the Uleth watched their display as they saw the six ships come to a stop. The ships were being barraged by more than eight thousand lasers but appeared to be unaffected by them; once they moved closer the satellites could launch their missiles. The fleet would arrive quickly and destroy the invaders.

“I wish to communicate with the leaders of this planet.”

The eight looked at each other and then looked at their communications board. No one moved.

“I’m hoping I don’t have to destroy all your satellites and starships to get your attention but I will if you refuse to answer me.”

No one moved and the Leader of the group shook his head.

“Have it your way; the satellites first.”

The five huge satellites were hit with a broad beam and exploded into vapor. The eight beings jumped out of their chairs and stared at the five expanding balls of fire and gas above the planet. Then they heard, “You have one more opportunity to respond and then I am going to destroy every ship in this solar system and then eliminate your military on the planet.”

Seven of the Leaders looked at one of them and he pushed a button, “What is it you want to discuss?”

Maddy sat forward in her chair and said a quick prayer, “There’s not going to be much of a discussion. I am going to tell you what you are going to have to do to live. If you don’t follow my directions I am going to blow your civilization back into a primitive society.”