Defending Earth-Discovery Means Death (2 page)

“Why not?”

“Out in intergalactic space, there’s not much we could hit. That’s not true when we’re traveling through a galaxy. At this speed, it would be impossible to avoid an asteroid, planet, star–you get the idea.”

Rocky smiled, “This is a much better view than traveling in the void.”

“Indeed it is.”

Rocky pulled up the tutorial on the ship and scrolled through the directory. He finally found stealth systems and went to the section. He read a few pages and looked up, “My training mentioned the stealth systems on this vessel but didn’t go into detail. I was told that this ship cannot be seen by normal scanners.”

“That’s true.”

“What’s different about this ship?”

“All of the electrical conduits run through the silver hull material. The shielding around them is more than three feet thick and they’re shielded more than that when they exit the hull and go to the various systems. The telepathy modules are also shielded and the conduits from the receiver run directly to your armor. You’ll be able to hear us as well as every thought inside our range outside the ship.”

“What about the receivers?”

“They’re located inside a curved three foot long channel that will receive outside waves but not reflect them back. The curve hides them from any outside scanner.”

“Are our ships able to see it?”

“They won’t see the ship but those that possess the new telepathic skills will be able to see you.”

“I thought you said I’m able to hide my presence?”

“You are. But you could open your brain to outside thoughts and they would be able to see where you are.”

“Doesn’t that pose a danger?”

“Not really. Fleet Scientists are of the opinion that you would have to deliberately open your mind; kind of like flexing your arm. You would have to choose to do it. I’ve recorded our speeds in the void and normal space. Do you want to trial the barrier now?”

“How long will it take us to arrive at M-87 if we go into the barrier?”

“About half a second.”

“No, let’s just make the trip in normal space. I’ve forgotten just how beautiful this universe we inhabit really is. This is quite relaxing.”

“Normal space it is.”

“Thanks, Amber.”

“Rocky.”

“Yes, Willie.”

“We’ve been recalled to Earth.”

“Why?”

“It appears a weapon’s operator has been found.”

Rocky sighed, “I worried about that initially but I’m almost sorry about bringing anyone else on board now. I think we work well together.”

“I don’t think any of us is going to like bringing her on board.”

“Her?”

“Yes. It appears she is being forced to go with us.”

Rocky’s eyes narrowed, “Well, we just can’t have that.”

“Claudrel has ordered it.” Rocky rolled his eyes. “It looks like Fleet wants her brother to go with us but are unable to find him.”

“He’s using his talents to hide.”

“Yes, he is.”

“And they think that if they send her, he’ll come out of hiding to prevent it?”

“Yes, they do.”

“He won’t know about it Willie.”

“Why do you say that?”

“If he’s really hiding, he won’t open his mind to contact her and, if she really loves him, she won’t either. Take us back in the barrier, Amber.”

“Why not the light drive?”

“I’m going to avoid using it.”

“Why?”

“Don’t the two of you remember the report you sent to Fleet when you brought Poncho and Brittany back?”

There was a long moment of silence and Willie said, “How long have you known?”

“Amber should have changed her name as well. If it’s all the same to you, I think Willow sounds better than Willie.”

“Willow it is.”

“Why did you change your name?”

“It took a lot of time to get the last two pilots to get over their stage fright. I thought I’d spare you that.”

“I am impressed by who you are but I’m really thankful it’s the two of you going with me. You’ve been there before. We’ll discuss this later. Let’s go see if we can change Fleet’s mind about sending this reluctant warrior.”

• • •

The Light Ship appeared at the manufacturing facility and Rocky stood up, “I’ll keep my mind open so you can both listen to what’s being said.”

“Thank you, Rocky.”

“Contact me if you think of anything that will help, Willow.”

“I will.”

Rocky walked to the port and exited the ship. He stepped out on the ground and saw Commodore Jekins walking toward him with a young woman being led behind him by two security guards; his expression wasn’t good. “Captain, I have another crew member for you.”

Rocky looked at the female and said, “I understand she doesn’t wish to go.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“You know the talents of the computers you put on this ship.” Jenkins stared at Rocky and blew out a breath. “They are also of the opinion that once the trials are completed, we are going to take this ship into combat. Are they right?”

“They are.”

“When were you going to tell me?”

“After the trials were completed. If the ship isn’t ready, there would have been no need to tell you anything.”

“Why is that?”

“Because we’re looking for someone else to go instead of you.” Rocky stared at Jekins and remained silent. The woman heard the exchange and quit struggling against her guards. Jekins shook his head, looked at her, and then back at Rocky, “Captain, you were chosen for this mission because of your mental ability to be psychically invisible. We’ve not found anyone else that possesses that talent, other than this woman and her brother. You are not who we would normally choose to do this.”

Rocky actually smiled, “Becauseeee?”

“You’re unreliable. You are prone to ignoring orders and making excuses for ignoring them. We want someone that will do as they’re told.”

“Why are you telling me this? It could make me refuse to go.”

“You can’t refuse. The Council has ordered a state of war and no one can refuse to follow their orders.” Jekins looked at the woman, “Including this brat and her brother.”

Rocky looked at the woman. She was really fit to be tied. She stood about five feet six inches and her face was incredibly beautiful. At the moment her blue eyes were little more than slits and her shoulder length black hair was a mess. It looked like someone had forced a helmet on her head and then took it off roughly. “Do you understand what he’s saying?”

“He’s said it enough times.”

“But do you really understand the consequences of not doing as you’re directed?”

The woman’s head tilted and she looked at Jekins, “He says I will go to prison.”

Rocky shook his head, “Why didn’t you tell her the rest?”

“We’re hoping to spare her that when her brother comes in to take her place.”

Rocky looked at the woman, “Do you want to tell him?” She looked at him and shook her head.

“Tell me what?”

“How is he going to know?”

Jekins looked at the woman, “She’ll tell him.”

“How?”

“She’ll open her mind and contact him.”

Rocky shook his head, “If he’s closed his mind, he won’t hear her.”

“What do you mean?”

“Can a human that’s not telepathic hear your thoughts?”

“They can if I direct my thoughts at them.”

“But you have to remember that this new brand of telepath won’t hear your directed thoughts if they don’t deliberately open their minds to it.”

Jekins stared at Rocky, looked at the girl, and said, “She knows where he is.”

“She probably did when you took her into custody but that is no longer the case. You’re going to have to wait for him to attempt to contact her. If she’s with me, that won’t happen.”

“You’re trying to stop her from going with you.”

“I am. I don’t want a reluctant crewman. However, you’ve not told her what will happen if she refuses to go.”

The girl looked at Rocky, “What is he not telling me?”

“You will be arrested, put in prison, and tried for treason. The penalty for that is death.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me; treason? I’ve not committed treason!”

Rocky shook his head, “Earth has been attacked numerous times in the past and one of those invasions eradicated all human life on the planet. Any human not willing to fight to defend the planet is lawfully committing treason. You will be executed.”

“How is that fair?”

“You should have learned from your history lessons that the universe isn’t fair. We’ve been at peace for hundreds of years but the enemy that can destroy us again is out there looking for us.” Rocky looked at Jekins and turned back to the woman, “Quite frankly, I should resign my commission and tell this pompous Officer to shove it…” Jekins’ eyes narrowed as Rocky said, “But, if the Alliance has issued a state of war declaration, resigning is no longer an option. I will go only because I have no desire to be executed.”

The woman shook her head, “But Jack isn’t a warrior. He’s more of a scientist. He’d be lost trying to fight.”

Jekins smirked, “He could learn just like all of us.”

“Commodore!”

Everyone stopped what they were doing and Jekins said, “Yes Sir!”

“Send the two of them to my office immediately.”

“Uhhhh, yes Sir.”

“You will report as well. I’ll speak with you after I finish with them.”

“Is something wrong, Sir?”

“We’ll discuss it later. Send them now.”

Jekins looked at them and blew out a breath, “High Leader Claudrel has ordered you to report to her office.”

Rocky looked at the woman, “What is your name?”

“Jill.”

Rocky’s eyes narrowed, “Jack and Jill. Are the two of you twins?”

“Yes, we are.”

“Well, just keep in mind that you don’t have much room to operate under the current circumstances.” The guards pushed her and they boarded a shuttle that had skipped in to the front of the building. It rose above the tarmac and disappeared. It reappeared above the roof of Fleet Operations. Two armored guards met them and escorted them down the steps to the huge elevator. Rocky knew things weren’t looking good.

R
ocky walked into the huge room and saw High Leader Claudrel sitting behind her desk staring at her desk monitor. She glanced up and waved them forward, “Guards, go and stand by the door. Commodore Jekins, wait outside.” Jekins nodded and left the room. Rocky walked forward and Jill soon joined him. He came to attention in front of the huge desk and Jill just stood normally. Claudrel looked up at her and smiled, “Honey, you are now in Earth’s armed forces and I would advise you to follow proper protocol for my position in the Alliance. I know you were taught how to do it in elementary school.”

Jill stared at her and saw something in the old woman’s eyes. She came to attention and Claudrel smiled, “Now was that so hard? At ease and the two of you take a seat.” Rocky went directly to a chair in front of the desk and, after a brief hesitation, Jill followed his lead. Claudrel stared at her monitor and didn’t look at them for more than fifteen minutes. Jill stirred slightly and Rocky shook his head. She saw him and forced herself to sit still.

Claudrel leaned back in her chair and looked at them. “Captain Stone, it appears you have some rather uncomplimentary evaluations in your fleet performance records.”

“Yes Sir.”

“Explain why that is.”

“I deserved them, High Leader.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t follow my orders.” Jill’s eyes narrowed as she listened to the exchange. “What orders did you specifically refuse to follow?”

Rocky took a deep breath and blew it out, “I refused to fire on a warship that was fleeing a planet that Fleet was attacking.”

“It says that this planet was an aggressive species that had invaded more than ten other worlds.”

“That is true.”

“Why did you not open fire?”

“The ship didn’t open fire on me, Sir.”

“So?”

“I believed that I could stop it without killing everyone on board.”

Claudrel looked at her monitor, “This says you convinced the crew to surrender.” Rocky nodded. Claudrel looked at him, “Who was on that vessel?”

“A small crew and two thousand children of the planet’s leaders.”

Claudrel looked back at her monitor, “It doesn’t say anything about that in the report?”

“Fleet determined that piece of information should be classified.”

“Classified doesn’t mean leaving it out of our records.”

“That decision was made by my Fleet’s Commanding Officer.”

“What is his name?”

“Admiral Whitaker, Sir.”

Claudrel stared at him for a moment and then turned back to her monitor. Suddenly, Admiral Whitaker appeared on the giant wall monitor. “Yes High Leader, how may I be of assistance?”

“Is it common practice that you deliberately leave important information out of your reports?”

Whitaker’s face froze and he quickly said, “I’m not sure what you’re referring to, High Leader.”

“I have Captain Stone in my office and he says that he stopped a Treget Warship moving more than two thousand children off the planet. Is that true?”

Whitaker saw Rocky sitting in front of the High Leader and said, “Yes.”

“Why was that omitted from your report? I also see that the Treget quickly called a truce and surrendered after that vessel was stopped. Did that ship’s capture have anything to do with their surrender?” Whitaker hesitated and Claudel said, “If you do not answer my questions immediately, I will have you court marshalled.”

“The Treget agreed to surrender if we returned the ship.”

“Why was that not placed in the records?”

“I determined that the leaders of the planets they conquered would have rebelled at the idea of returning them.”

“And just how would they have known? Do they have access to our records?”

“No Sir.”

“It appears to me you deliberately left them out to give Captain Stone a low evaluation.”

“He disobeyed orders, Sir.”

“And if he had carried them out, the war would have continued with high loss of lives on both sides of the conflict.”

“We could have destroyed all of their warships without much damage to our fleet, Sir.”