Defending Earth-Discovery Means Death (3 page)

“What about loss of life on the Treget Planet?”

Whitaker hesitated and saw Claudel’s expression turn hard, “We would have been forced to bombard the planet to remove their defenses. There would have been loss of lives if we did.”

“Admiral, you will report to Fleet Headquarters to face a board of inquiry. You will be charged with misusing your authority for personal reasons.”

“But…”

“Don’t force me to have you arrested. Board a shuttle and place yourself under Admiral Ambrose’s jurisdiction.”

“Yes Sir.”

Claudel looked at Rocky, “How did you know there were children on board?”

“Sir?”

“You knew. I’ve looked at your records from fighting against aggressive civilizations in the Coma Cluster and you’ve fired on many ships that didn’t fire on you. Why was this ship different?”

“I could feel the fear of those on board. It was different from the fear an adult feels during danger. I knew it had to be coming from beings that were very young.”

“So you made a decision based on the information you had before you?” Rocky nodded. “Are you aware that you have been passed over for promotion four times due to these evaluations?”

“Actually, it was five times. I was up for promotion when it happened.”

“What do you think about that?”

“I did refuse to follow orders, High Leader.”

“That is what will lead to our destruction, Captain; following orders blindly instead of making good decisions. I must confess that I was concerned about sending you out on this mission but now I feel much better about it.”

“Sir?”

“Are you aware of what’s happening in Feeder Territory?” Rocky’s eyes narrowed and Claudel waved her hand, “Of course you’re not aware. That idiot Jekins didn’t tell you.”

“He was evasive.”

“The Feeders have been searching space far away from us looking for a ship that invaded the planetary system of their leaders. They are now recalling those fleets and are going to start searching on a line that will lead them to us.” Rocky started shaking his head and Claudel nodded, “We have to prevent that from happening.”

“We need to attack them again.”

“That’s how I see it.”

“With just one ship?”

“How did you know only one ship was going to be used?”

“Amber and Willow think that’s how it will be done.”

“What do you think?”

“I agree with them.”

“Did you see it before they suggested it?” Rocky hesitated and nodded. Claudel smiled, “Whitaker is going to pay a heavy price for his arrogance. You should have been promoted long ago. How do you feel about being sent out on this dangerous mission?”

“I know what we’re facing.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“If I can slow them down, it’s worth the sacrifice.”

Claudel turned to Jill, “I’m tempted to have you arrested for treason and be done with you and your brother. I agree with Captain Stone that sending a reluctant crewmember with him will only cause issues that could get him and his ship killed. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t just execute the two of you?”

Jill stared at the High Leader and the gravity of the situation finally hit her. “I’ll willingly go with him and do my best to make the mission a success if you will just consider doing one thing.”

“You’re in no position to ask any favors!”

“High Leader, my brother has a gentle heart. He’s never been able to kill a bug much less an intelligent being. He’s fascinated by technology and has spent all his life studying how things work. He is not a warrior. I’ll go gladly if you will spare him and put him where he can make a difference.”

“What possible difference could he make?”

“He isn’t able to close his mind.” Rocky turned and stared at her and Claudel’s eyes went wide. Jill shook her head, “I can do it but he can’t.”

“Then why haven’t we found him?”

“He’s developed a device that emits a field that blocks his mind.”

“Why did he do that?”

“Because I could do something he couldn’t, High Leader. That’s why you won’t find him.”

“Is this field detectable?”

“No, it isn’t.”

Rocky looked at Claudel and shrugged. Jill said, “You need him here working with your scientists more than you do me.”

Claudel stared at her and then nodded, “If what you’re saying is true, I will grant your request. But you will keep your word about doing your best to make this mission a success. How do I find him?”

Jill sighed and said, “Do you promise to not harm him?”

Claudrel rolled her eyes, “If he can do what you say, he’s more precious than his weight in silver hull material. He will be protected more than you know.”

“Put a guard up at Genève Rodrigues’ residence on the south side of Boston.”

“Why is he there?”

“He loves her and she will hide him.”

Claudel looked at Rocky, “You are promoted to Full Admiral and will have all the benefits of the rank. It will be made retroactive to the time you stopped that ship. You and this woman need to go and slow the Feeders down.”

“High Leader, I don’t need a higher rank. Captain is fine with me.”

“You may have to issue orders to our fleets and I don’t expect them to listen to a Captain.” Rocky stared at her and then nodded. “Now get out of here and make me proud.”

Rocky stood up and Jill stood with him, “We should go.” She nodded and they walked out of the room. Claudel looked at the guards, “Send that idiot Commodore in!”

• • •

Rocky and Jill walked out of the huge room and Rocky looked at her, “How old are you?”

“Nineteen.”

Rocky shook his head and blew out a breath, “You’re not much more than a child.”

Jill looked at him, “How old are you?”

“Twenty four.”

“How old were you when you chose not to fire on that ship?”

Rocky’s eyebrows went down, “Eighteen.”

“So you’re five years older than me and you think I’m a baby?”

Rocky shook his head, “Touché.”

Jill continued walking up the steps to the roof and said, “I’m not like my brother.”

“How is that?”

“If you threatened to harm him, I would kill you without hesitation.”

Rocky smiled, “Well said. That’s the sort of Weapons Officer I’m going to need on this mission.”

Jill threw her hair back, “We’ll see.”

“How much do you know about the ship?”

“The Commodore tied me to the couch and force fed the tutorial to me. I need to go through the simulator to get a feel for the systems.”

“You’ll have to do that on the ship. We’re leaving immediately.”

“Why so suddenly?”

“If the High Leader is right, we need some time to scout the Feeders to determine where we’ll make our initial contact with them. You can learn your systems while that’s happening.”

“I don’t have anything to wear. They hauled me out of my house without packing.”

“We’ll stop by and pick you up some uniforms on the way. You’re going to need them to wear your armor. Have you been fitted?”

“He put me to sleep to fit me in armor.”

Rocky smiled, “Amber.”

“Yes.”

“Go by the building facility and have them install Jill’s armor on the ship. While you’re there, pick up some uniforms her size.”

“It might be easier for the two of you to meet us there and let her select her uniforms. What rank will she be? I’ll communicate with the facility and have them ready for her.”

“I don’t know. Give me a moment.” Rocky sent a request to speak with the High Leader and she instantly appeared on his wrist unit, “Yes!”

“We need to pick up uniforms for Jill. What rank will she be?”

“Commodore. Now get moving.”

Rocky’s head went back and Jill stopped dead in her tracks. She looked at Rocky, “Did I hear her correctly?”

“It appears the High Leader has looked at your records and determined that you are much more than I thought. I think it also tells us just how important this mission is.”

“Why do you say that?”

“No civilian has entered the service at that rank in more than three hundred years. She’s giving us the clout to make things happen.”

Jill shook her head. Things were moving too fast. She was dizzy with everything and hoped she could get a grip before they left for Feeder Space. She prayed Jack would be ok.

• • •

Jack sat in Geneve’s basement and wondered what was happening to Jill. He knew the military had to be grilling her about his whereabouts but he knew she wouldn’t give him up. She could block them from learning about Genève. He sighed and drank the remaining water in his glass and stood up. He stretched and started up the steps. He listened carefully at the basement door and didn’t hear anything. Genève would be back in about an hour. Her last class would be over in another fifteen minutes and she’d come straight home. He cracked the door open slightly and then slowly opened it wide. He walked over to the cooler and took out a bottle of water. “I suspect that’s probably pretty cold.” Jack fell back against the counter at the sound of the voice and almost fell to the floor. “Hey, hey, take it easy!” Jack looked into the dining room and saw a man in a military uniform sitting on a beach chair. He didn’t see him initially because he was below the level of the dining room table. “I was wondering if you were going to make an appearance before your girlfriend.” Jack looked around the small kitchen and the man pulled a blaster out of its holster, “I have it set on stun. If you try to make a break for it, I’ll be forced to use it.” Jack stared at him and the man shrugged, “You should know there are ten armored guards outside that door you’re thinking about using to escape. Why don’t you sit down and let’s discuss this like reasonable adults.”

“How did you find me?”

“Trust me, it wasn’t easy.” Jack stared at him and the man smiled, “I’m Admiral Lukas Ambrose.” Jack’s eyes widened and he immediately saw the man’s stars on his collar. “Will you relax!? You’re starting to make me nervous. Sit down please.” Jack slid over to a chair at the table and sat down but continued to look for a way to escape. Lukas smiled, “I’m not here to arrest you.”

“Then why are you here? And why are you here?”

The man’s eyebrows went up and then he smiled, “Oh, you’re asking why I’m personally here instead of one of my henchmen?” Jack nodded. “It has been brought to my attention that you have developed a device that allows you to hide your mind from other telepaths.”

“HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?”

“Well, since I want to keep our conversation open and honest, I’ll just say your sister told the High Leader about it.”

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER!?”

“She’s fine. And the High Leader has promised her that you will not be harmed or forced to go on a mission you want to avoid.”

Jack stared at the man for a long moment and then Genève came through the front door with an armored guard escorting her. Jack’s eyes went wide and the Admiral turned and said, “Leave us!” The armored warrior nodded and went out the front door.

“What’s going on, Jack?”

Lukas smiled, “Why don’t you join us at the table Miss Rodrigues.” Geneviève looked at Jack and he sighed and nodded. She went to the table and sat down next to Jack and took his hand as Lukas stood up out of the beach chair, “Miss Rodrigues, you really need to get a more comfortable beach chair. This one is hard on the back.” Lukas went to a chair across the table from them and sat down. “Was your sister right about the device?” Jack looked at Genny and then looked at Admiral Ambrose, “Yes.”

“Good.”

“What’s going on, Admiral?”

“Jack, your sister says that you aren’t cut out to be the warrior type. Is she right?”

“I have no desire to kill anything.”

“What if someone came in here and threatened to harm Miss Rodrigues, would you harm them to protect her?”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“They would be endangering her.”

“So you would be willing to attack and possibly kill anyone who threatened to harm her?”

“If forced to do it, I would.”

“The Feeders will be here in less than ten years if something’s not done to slow them down. I do hope you know about how the Death Feeders consume their prey.” Jack started shaking his head and Lukas said, “I’m being truthful, Jack. If they find us, they will overwhelm our forces and take Earth. I suspect you and Miss Rodrigues will be one of the first consumed because of your high intelligence.”

“Call me Genny.”

Lukas nodded, “I didn’t want to be too familiar.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“We need your device, if it actually works, to send out ships to slow them down. I came here to try and persuade you to work with us in using it to protect our pilots from the Feeder’s linkages.”

“Where is Jill?”

“She chose to go on the mission you ran to avoid.”

“GET HER BACK!”

“Sorry, her ship has left and we have no way to contact it. She agreed to give her best effort in making the mission a success. At the moment, her vessel is the only one we’re sending to try and slow the Feeder advance. Your device would allow us to send more ships to assist her in the effort.”

“You forced her to do it!”

Lukas shrugged, “Yes, we did. Just like we would force someone to save you and Genny if you were attacked. She made one condition clear.”

“What is that?”

“That we would not harm you in any way. We will keep that promise, Jack. My forces will no longer pursue you and you are free to go about your life as you choose.”

Jack stared at Lukas and Genny said, “But you said you needed Jack’s device to send more ships?”

“We do. But that is something that Jack will have to be willing to agree to do. I’m hoping he will.”

“Why do you need my device?”

“Jack, what I’m about to tell you is classified to a level that could get you executed if you reveal it. It could cause a panic in the general population if it got out. The Feeders captured an advanced warship about three hundred years ago from a species that is actually more evil than the Feeders. That ship has the ability to face off with our most advanced ships on an even footing. If the Feeders can detect our ships. Well, you can imagine where we’d be.”