Escape to Earth-The Legacy of a Conqueror (18 page)

“Why?”

“What do you mean why?”

“Just answer the question. What will change if they’re not eliminated?”

“They’ll be able to fire on my ship!”

“So?” Chad opened his mouth to respond and then closed it. Stoney saw him thinking and he smiled, “If any ship can defeat your force field and the silver coating…”

“Then I would already be dead.”

“Exactly.” Chad sat back down and Stoney said, “It only takes ten percent of the reactor’s power to operate the thrusters. Any more than that and you’d never be able to fly slowly enough to attack anything. The disruptors and the other weapons only use twenty percent of the reactor’s power. That leaves you seventy percent to power the force field and other defensive systems.”

“What other defensive systems?”

“The black cloud emitters and the barrier controls that will throw your ship into the barrier.”

Chad lowered his head and said, “I could always duck in the barrier and then come out after each attack.”

“That’s using your head.”

Chad looked at Stoney, “How am I going to fly this ship and command my fleet?”

“You could always allow one of your computers to fly the ship while the other controls the weapons.”

“But that would weaken the weapons.”

“So you only do it when you’re not actually attacking enemy ships?”

Chad nodded and pressed a button on his panel. The targeting monitor went dark. Stoney smiled as Chad said, “I need to focus on flying the ship on a path that offers the best route for my weapons to hit targets.”

“That’s the plan.”

Everyone in the room listened to the exchange and Chad said, “Let’s try this again.”

Stoney pressed his hand control and Chad’s screen appeared on the classroom’s central monitor. Chad flew through the simulated warship formations around him and ships began exploding at an incredible pace. Stoney moved to the back of the class and saw the other students turn off their targeting monitors. He smiled; now they were making progress. In another week, Chad turned on the targeting monitor and his score doubled. Stoney was learning how to train the classes that would follow this first one. Chad was right; these new ships were incredibly difficult to master. He was thankful their ships wouldn’t be ready soon; they needed the simulator time before they actually started flying them. He hoped Earth had enough time to get them ready.

• • •

“Lukas, what’s bothering you?”

“Why do you think something is bothering me?”

Salud lowered her eyes and raised her left eyebrow, “Seriously?”

Lukas sighed, “I guess you know me too well.”

“What is it?”

Lukas sighed and told her about the conversation he had with Pat. “”That’s really scary.”

“I know. I’m just torn at putting another galaxy in danger because of our actions. We’ve done that once and you know what happened.”

Salud reached over and took his hand. She looked out at the ocean and said, “I love this beach. So much has happened here.” Lukas smiled and nodded. Salud turned to him, “You don’t have enough information.”

“What?”

“You don’t know the magnitude of that species that might come calling if you destroy the Legends.”

“I can’t let Pat look for them. They’ll see him and come here.”

“Why does Pat have to do it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Our ships are capable of pretty much going anywhere in no time at all. If we go out scouting for them, they’ll only see the one that finds them.”

Lukas’s eyes narrowed and then went wide, “Pat!”

“Yes.”

“You mentioned the Sentinels didn’t know about the barrier we discovered between the void and normal space?”

“They do now.”

Salud tilted her head, “What are you thinking?”

“We stay in the barrier when we’re searching for them.”

Salud thought for a moment, “If our ships really go a great distance from here, how will they find their way back?”

Lukas pressed his wrist unit and Amanda appeared, “Hello, Lukas.”

“Amanda, didn’t you say that we can communicate while we’re in the void?”

“Yes. The frequency is different but it works.”

“I was wondering about putting a beacon in the barrier that broadcast on a regular pattern. How far away could that beacon be seen?”

Amanda’s eyes narrowed, “I honestly…have…no idea.”

“Can you check it out and get back to me.” Amanda had a far-away look and Lukas knew her mind was somewhere else. “AMANDA!”

“Oh, uhh, what, excuse me I was…”

“Don’t worry about it, get back to me on this!”

“Yes Sir, I will…”

Amanda’s voice trailed off and Lukas ended the contact. “She’s really good at what she does but boy she can be distracted.”

Salud smiled, “She won’t do anything else until she finds out.”

“I know.”

“You might mention to her that if the beacon works, we’re going to need a lot of them.”

“Why?”

“We’ll need to drop one where we find them.”

Lukas smiled, “I keep forgetting you’re a physics professor. You are really amazing, my love.”

“And don’t you forget it!”

Lukas smiled and squeezed her hand tighter, “I never will.”

• • •

“Sit down. Are you comfortable in that armor?”

Chris smiled, “No, I’m not taking it off. I’m comfortable enough. Besides, my sensors tell me that the atmosphere on this ship is much denser than what I’m accustomed to breathing along with the level of gravity being maintained.”

“These crewmembers are all from heavy gravity planets. I should have brought a different ship.”

“Then you would have to wear armor.”

The Being smiled, “You are right, of course. My name is Kilon.”

“My name is Christopher Stone. Call me Chris.”

“So what do we do about this situation?”

“Obviously, we try to come to an understanding about how each of us will conduct ourselves when we encounter each other.”

“Can you make agreements for your civilizations?”

“I’m surprised you say civilizations.”

“I assume there are more than just one intelligent species in your galaxy?”

“You are right. The ones fighting the war against what you call the Monster Galaxy are working together. There are four of us.”

“What about the others?”

“They are sitting this one out.”

“By choice?”

“No, they would attempt to take advantage of any situation to conquer new territory. We deemed them…unreliable. However, I can make agreements for our Alliance.”

“Unfortunately, I cannot. I am in the position of the commanding all of our forces but my fleets come from more than six hundred different civilizations. They understand that someone has to be in a position to make decisions but that will end if we win this war.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Kilon nodded, “Its worse than that. There are numerous civilizations that actually bonded with the Invaders. They want the Monsters to return and are actively working against us.”

“They’re attacking your fleets?”

“No, they’re not that stupid but they are working behind the scenes trying to turn our members against our efforts.”

“It sounds to me like you’ll have a civil war if you’re successful.”

Kilon smiled, “Nothing brings beings together like a common enemy. I do expect some…adjusting to new circumstances, if we win, but even civil war will be nothing compared to fighting off the Orange Ships.”

Chris looked out of the room’s viewport, “Whose planet is that?”

“That’s my world.” Chris nodded and continued to stare out of the viewport. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m glad I saved you. I can see in our thoughts that this war against the Progen has hardened you but you are honorable. I can work with that.”

“What do you mean?”

Chris thought, “Barbie, do you have the blue prints of the fusion reactor and the disruptors they fired on the Attack Pod?”

“I do.”

“Transmit them to my data center.”

Allison thought, “Is this a good idea?”

“You’ve been listening to the discussion. What do you think?”

“Why do you want to do it?”

“They won’t be strong enough to defeat our ships but his ships will be strong enough to stand up to the Orange Ships and shorten any civil war that follows.”

“I’m not so sure they’ll stand up to the new Progen Ships.”

“If they get close enough, they will. That’s all I can give them.” Kilon watched the small being and knew he was communicating with his ship. He waited and then Chris said, “I’m downloading some plans on a fusion reactor and a beam weapon that uses the reactor.” Chris saw the data complete downloading and said, “Do you have an input for your computer?”

“How do I know you’re not downloading a virus?”

Chris shrugged, “You don’t. But you can isolate this ship’s computer until your engineers can look at the data.”

“You say a fusion reactor?” Chris nodded. “Why would you do this? What are you looking for in return?”

“Actually, I don’t expect anything in return; this is old technology for us now. However, I know your principle weapon is your missiles. They won’t be enough against the Progen’s new warships.”

“You still haven’t told me why you’re doing this?”

“If we somehow defeat the forces in the Monster Galaxy, this will shorten the civil war that follows. Choose carefully who you share this technology with.”

“You’re setting me up to be the ruler of this galaxy.”

“Only if that’s what you want. You’ve been chosen to lead them now; who would be better to give this to?” Chris paused and said, “Try to keep the death toll as low as possible if civil war breaks out and be generous in your terms of surrender.”

“I didn’t expect this when I offered to communicate.”

Chris slowly shook his head, “There is also a selfish reason for this.”

“What is that?”

“If any of your civilizations attacks my galaxy, I will be the one to punish the offender. I don’t want to kill like I did the last time. I’m really hoping you can prevent any of your civilizations from forcing me to do that.”

“What’s to prevent you from conquering my galaxy?”

“That’s simple.”

“What?”

“Just don’t attack us and you’ll be safe.”

Kilon stared at Chris, “You’re serious.”

“I am. My Alliance is not aggressive. We do not intend to take territory. But we will be the worst nightmare of anyone foolish enough to attack us.”

Kilon pressed a button on his desk. A tall black being entered and Kilon said, “This being has just downloaded some data into our network. I want you and Grel to take a look at it and tell me what it is.” The being bowed and walked out. “How were you able to stop from exterminating the ones that killed your mate?”

“It took one of my Senior Officers pointing out what kind of example I was setting for my son to follow.”

“I can’t believe you took that very well.”

“I had my hand on her throat in an instant.”

“She must be very brave.”

“She’s the bravest person I know. She saved me from losing my soul.”

“Do you honestly think you would have?”

“Do you have children?”

“A son and daughter.”

“You will find yourself looking at them and realizing how many sons and daughters your actions killed. You will never be the same if you don’t control your intentions.”

• • •

Allison listened to the conversation and sighed. She should have acted earlier. Chris just told her what he was thinking every time he saw Michael. He carried a heavy burden and she didn’t see any way for him to ever find redemption.

• • •

Kilon stared at Chris and said, “I will consider what you’ve said.” He looked up as the door opened as the tall black being rushed in and said, “Commander, this is incredible. This is far beyond anything we’ve ever seen.”

“Can you build them?”

“With these plans, an idiot could build them.”

Kilon looked at Chris, “Thank you. Your galaxy has nothing to fear from us as long as I’m in command.”

Chris nodded, “That new reactor plans also include the schematics of a thruster system that will allow you to travel to the Monster Galaxy in three weeks.” Kilon looked at the tall engineer and he nodded. Chris said, “Use them wisely.”

“I will, my friend. You’ve probably saved me again.”

“Make it worth it, Kilon.”

Chris turned and Kilon said, “Take him back to his ship.” The engineer nodded and led Chris out of the room. Kilon sat down and thought about a species that strengthened strangers and expected nothing in return. He thought about the Green Civilization and began having second thoughts about their destruction.

• • •

Chris walked on the bridge and Allison got up and went to her chair. Chris deactivated his armor and stretched. He turned the ship and moved out of the huge landing bay. He moved it a mile away and dropped into the barrier. He skipped out and Kilon heard, “Commander that ship disappeared from our scanners as soon as it entered the void.” Kilon nodded and continued to think about what he was going to do with this new technology. His crew thought about a ship that was undetectable with a force field beyond anything ever encountered. Their fear was real and the message went out about a small invincible ship.

• • •

Chris looked at Allison, “M-87?”

“I think we need to go home first?”

“Why?”

“There’s been a development that Lukas wants to discuss with you.”

Chris tilted his head, “Do you know what it is?”

“No.”

“I want you in the meeting with me.”

“Why?”

“I need your insights. You see things I might miss.” Allison nodded as the ship appeared above Earth. She shook her head. The universe had gotten much smaller. She didn’t have time to think about why they were recalled before they were standing in front of Lukas and the rest of the Leadership Team. She looked at Chris and realized he saw the same thing. She didn’t know if this was a benefit or not of their new barrier drive. She didn’t even remember to ask Chris how he knew she was so competitive. Along with the entire Leadership team the Welken, Myot, and Johan Rulers and their fleet commanders were present. Something radical must have happened. Five minutes into the meeting, she and everyone else in the room saw Chris was not happy! And she really couldn’t blame him. She could see in his eyes that his nightmares were alive and well.