Escape to Earth 3: Defending Holy Ground (2 page)

Loree looked at Emily, “See what you’ve started? Now we have to make more high speed runs to deliver them.”

Emily laughed, “I’d love to see the next Invader that tries to take one of them out.”

Loree smiled and shook her head, “I suspect the invader’s warships will deliberately avoid detecting them after a few of them are destroyed. Good idea, Lieutenant.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

• • •

“Lukas, all of the construction equipment from the moon is now at the new planet. The base on the closest moon should be completed shortly.”

“What about the city?”

“It’s growing at an enormous rate. The second city now has all the infrastructure in place and the buildings are going up at a fast pace.”

Lukas looked at his panel, “How many people have moved?”

“Not as many as we hoped. The first hundred thousand were attacked by the local bacteria and viruses and suffered for about three weeks. More than eight thousand died. However, the survivor’s blood has been used to develop shots that will immunize those that come later. It’s taken about eight weeks to get enough of the serum made for the others. While it was being made, we used the colony ships to move enough farming equipment and seeds to start growing crops when the farmers arrive. We would have to take time to make the move so we didn’t waste time during the stoppage.”

Lukas shook his head and sighed, “We’ve got to get moving on this.”

“Lukas, we’ve limited every colonist to only carry personal items that will fit in a back pack. It’s really hard to walk away from all the things you’ve built during your life. We’re able to get close to double the number on each ship now. The Welken sent the converters they use to build their battleships and we’ve already placed them on the closest moon.”

Lukas sat back in his chair and shook his head, “Has Stoney left with Kathy and Christopher?”

“They arrived last week.”

“How’s Jinks taking it?”

“He’s not happy with it. You know how close the two of them are.”

Lukas stared at Salud, “When are you leaving?”

“You know the answer to that.”

“Salud, we need you to help get the colleges up and running.”

“I go when you go.”

“I may not be leaving.”

“Then I may not be going.”

“Salud!”

“Lukas, if we take a vote on who’s more important to the success of our new planet, who do you think would win; you or me?”

“I’m highly overrated. You actually have the skills we’re going to need to build our society.”

“Lukas, the ratio of the smartest professors on Earth to the other colonists is about one in three. Pretty much everyone will have their own private instructor if things continue like they are. We’ll have enough talent to build the schools we need. You just don’t want me to be in danger.”

Lukas sighed and looked at his panel, “We’ll discuss this later. What about the space port?”

“It’s pretty much completed. Trevor and Amanda have set up shop there and are working on the reactors that will power the force field around it.” Salud went behind Lukas and put her arms around his neck, “It only takes us a day to get to Andromeda. The numbers leaving Earth will accelerate now that we have enough vaccine.”

“Salud, there are more than five billion humans here.”

“Each colony ship can carry twenty thousand colonists. It takes more time to get them on board than to make the trip. Now that they can only carry a backpack, the loading time will be reduced by two thirds. Within sixty days we’ll have half a billion people ferried to the planet.”

“There’s no way we can build enough housing for that many in sixty days.”

“That’s true but the building converters are clearing enough ground to build giant shelters until they can catch up. The climate is good where the cities are being built and humans have a way of enduring hardships. The most important thing is to get them there and build for them as quickly as possible. There are enough food processors to feed and clothe them until enough homes are completed.”

“It appears the unrest is starting again.”

“It will probably get worse before it gets better but the Pods are being used to move the colonists selected directly from their homes to Barbados. We’re leaving it up to the local governments to make the selections and they’re doing a remarkable job. I think the people on Earth know that no one is playing favorites trying to make this happen.”

“What about this
HELL NO, I WON’T GO
movement?”

“It appears a huge number of people are declining their selections. The computer has analyzed them and says that most of them are older than forty and don’t want to start over. They say they’ll take their chances on Earth.”

“That is not a good idea.”

Salud sighed, “This might well be Pat’s work.”

“I don’t want the job of selecting who goes and who stays. Even the local governments are having difficulty making it happen and Pat is probably the only being capable of making sure those that go should. I hope he is involved in the process.”

“He has been doing all he can to help us. By the way, have we come up with a name for this new planet?”

“The suggested list of names is rather long. Everything from Atlantis and Avalon in the A’s to Zander and Zonks in the Z’s. Do you have a preference?”

“I suggested Avalon so I’m prejudiced.”

“I’m not familiar with that name.”

“Avalon was a place in Celtic mythology that was an earthly paradise generally described as a land of plenty where eternal Spring, health, and harmony reigned. On this island of apple trees, food-producing plants were so abundant that no one ever needed to farm the land.”

“I seem to recall that this was similar to how the Garden of Eden was described.”

Salud tilted her head, “I believe you’re right. Is Eden on the list?”

Lukas looked at the list and shook his head, “No, it’s not.”

“Put it on. I like that.”

Lukas took a deep breath, “According to legend, that is where man first appeared on Earth and it was a gift from their creator.”

“Some believe it’s more than a legend Lukas.”

Lukas nodded, “It does sound like a beautiful place.” He looked up at Salud, “We’ll name it after we complete the migration. However, Pat tells me that there are some aggressive civilizations in Andromeda. I wonder if there is anywhere that’s really safe to live.”

“How does he know that?”

“The other Sentinels told him. They chose that planet because it’s in the middle of a huge nebula that’s birthing numerous stars. The planet and its sun are in a clear area in the middle of it.”

“It should be hard to find.”

“If one of those aggressive civilizations stumbles on it now, it has no defenses to protect it. We are going to have to decide whose fleets are going to be sent there to defend it and that decision has to be made quickly. This isn’t something we can put off.”

“”You’ve already decided, haven’t you?”

Lukas started shaking her head, “Am I that transparent to you?”

“”You’ve chosen Chad and Julie to go.”

Lukas looked up at the ceiling and raised his hands, “Just how could you know that?”

“Because Chad’s fleet is here now and you said it couldn’t be delayed. Julie should go because of her baby. I noticed her parents are already there and they can help her take care of her while she’s with her fleet.”

“Chad isn’t going to like this. Jinks agrees that it could be a problem.”

“Call him in with Julie.”

“I don’t know that she will make him change his mind.”

“Then you don’t know Julie. Call them in.”

Lukas shook his head and pressed his panel.

“S
ir, this is one of the worse decisions I’ve ever seen! You need my fleet to defend Earth! I belong in this fight. I cannot accept this assignment!”

Lukas knew this wasn’t going to be easy and Julie was staying quiet as she held their daughter. He looked at Salud and she said, “Julie, you will take your fleet to the new planet immediately and set up a defense around it.”

“No, if Chad stays, we stay.”

Chad looked at Julie, “She’s right, Julie. You should go.”

“Why?”

Chad’s eyebrows came together, “So you and Summer will be safe.”

“What makes you think we’ll be safe? According to the Sentinels, there are aggressive civilizations in Andromeda as well. It’s not safe anywhere.”

“But the odds are that Earth will be destroyed no matter what we do.”

Julie’s head went back, “So you’re telling me that even if you stay, we’ll still probably lose to the Invaders?”

“They outnumber us by millions. You know that.”

“So you want me and our daughter to leave and I’ll have to raise her without her father.”

“Julie, my place is here defending Earth.”

“No, your place is where you can do the most good in defending humanity. Earth doesn’t sound like the best place to make that happen.”

Lukas looked at Chad, “Who would you want to go to defend your daughter? Who could do a better job than you?”

“Windy, Jinks, Indra, Sarah, Loree, all of them are excellent Admirals.”

“Who is the best?”

“That’s not fair!”

Lukas shook his head, “It’s perfectly fair. That planet is the only chance for Mankind to survive. Should we not send our best?”

Chad stared at Lukas and then looked at Julie. His torment was clear and he turned back to Lukas, “Sir, how can I live if all of those I’ve fought with die and I’ve done nothing to save them?”

“Chad, your fleet is going with you.”

“I’m not talking about them. I’m referring to you, Salud, Jinks, Sarah and the others that have fought with me to protect Earth.”

“We need you to protect the ones that will one day avenge what happens here, Admiral.”

Chad stared at Lukas and said, “So you believe you should send the best one to insure that?”

Lukas nodded, “I do.”

“Then I’ll do as you order if you go as well.” Lukas’ eyebrows narrowed and Chad said, “Not so easy is it, Lukas. You are needed more than I am and you should know that. Are you going?”

Julie, Chad, and Salud all stared at Lukas. He saw they agreed with Chad. He shook his head and looked at Salud, “Talk some sense into him.”

“I happen to agree with him.”

“Salud!”

“If we’re going to avenge Earth, if it’s lost, we’re going to need you to make this new world all it should be. Answer his question.”

Lukas sighed. He stood up and walked over to the wall covered with star maps and stared at it. After a minute, he turned around and looked at Chad. “If Earth is discovered by the Invaders, I will immediately leave with Salud and go to the new planet.” Chad started to speak and Lukas held up his hand, “You will go with your fleet to the new planet now! That is non-negotiable. I will stay and try to delay Earth’s discovery as long as possible but our new home needs defending now! Is that clear, Admirals!”

Chad looked at Julie and she nodded. He turned to Lukas and shook his head before saying, “Yes Sir.”

“Notify the members of your fleets that they will contact their families and tell them to go to Barbados to be taken on the next flights. Your crew’s families will be housed around the space port. Now get moving and make this happen. I want your ships there as soon as they’re provisioned and armed.”

Julie stood up with Summer and saluted along with Chad. Lukas returned their salutes and they left the operations center. Lukas looked at Salud, “Are you happy now!?”

“Jinks and the other Admirals were trying to figure out a way to tie you up and force you to go before Earth is attacked. They all agree that fighting to defend Earth was worthless if you refused to go. I’m not the only one that will welcome this decision, Lukas. We need you there.” Salud paused and smiled, “Besides, the new planet is located in an area of Andromeda dubbed the Space Beach and you know how much you like beaches.”

Lukas tried not to smile but failed. He shook his head and Salud moved into his arms. He held her close and said, “I do like a good beach.”

• • •

“Admiral.”

“Yes, Lance.”

We’re getting a signal from the probe closest to the conduit that runs from M-87 to M-86.”

“Put it on the monitor.”

Loree stared at the image being sent by the probe and she stood up. “Move the view in closer!” The end of the conduit outside M-87 grew until it filled the huge monitor and they saw it was disgorging Invader Warships at an incredible rate. As soon as the ships exited the conduit, they would turn and start moving directly toward the edge of M-87 closest to the Milky Way. The mass of ships exiting the conduit stunned the crew on the LaGrange’s bridge and Loree shook her head, “Contact Fleet Operations and send them a live feed on this. I’m issuing a War Warning to all of our fleets and tell Operations that it appears they will be coming through normal space; they have not started construction on another conduit.” Loree sat down as other probes began picking up the movement of the Invader’s fleets. Every monitor was filled with massive numbers of Orange Warships.

Lance shook his head, “Sir, we also have signals coming in from the probes watching the galaxy proper.”

Loree didn’t want to say it but forced herself to say, “Put it up on the tactical monitor.”

Images began flashing on the center monitor showing a massive migration of Orange Warships from inside the giant galaxy; they were all headed in the same direction. The first orange ships arrived outside the edge of M-87 and began forming up into giant formations.

• • •

Lukas saw Jinks rush into the Operations Center and he stopped beside Lukas who was staring at the bank of monitors on the wall. Jinks shook his head and Lukas quietly said, “Order all of our Attack Pods to leave for the new planet.” Lukas pointed at the monitor, “They stand no chance against that.”

Jinks shook his head, “If they’re coming without using a conduit, it is going to take them some time.” Lukas nodded. “I’m going to start seeding their path with the Dark Matter Balls.”

“It will slow them down a little but not much.”

Jinks nodded, “The only thing we can do is make this a war of attrition. When they hit the balls, we’ll attack the damaged ships in normal space.”