Lens of Time: Book 05 - Star Rover-The Worst of Time (20 page)

Dat said, “What else.”

“I’ve used one of the microprobes to scan all the other communities on the planet and every one of them sings the same frequency exactly. There is no measurable difference in the notes.”

Gresha looked at Dat, “We have the key.”

“Dat, do you want us to broadcast that frequency electronically?”

“No, not at this moment; it’s approaching sunset and we’ll look into it tomorrow.”

“You’re the boss’ and once again, congratulations and a good night to both of you.”

“Thanks.” Dat had to admit in the morning that it was a very good night.

• • •

Kat looked at the sociologist and shook her head, “Are you sure about this?”

“Nothing is ever certain when dealing with intelligent species.”

“What’s the probability?”

“Ninety five percent.”

“Oh, that’s all; why all the uncertainty?” Kat was amazed the scientist didn’t even see she was being sarcastic.

“There is a remote possibility that there won’t be enough survivors to do it. However, that is a remote possibility.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

The scientist looked at her and said, “I’ve been tracking the attacks in M87 and it won’t be long before this happens.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” The scientist stood and walked out. Kat blew out a breath, stood up, went to the window and stared out at Havana. She struggled with what to do and finally decided. Someone has to make the tough decisions. She went to her console and said, “Jere.”

“Yes Sir.”

“Get Admirals Anders and Connor in my office now.”

“Yes Sir.”

Kat pressed a button and said, “Gabriel, did you get a copy of my conversation with the former President out to Arvolo?”

“I did.”

“I need you to work on a project for me.”

“What do you need, Admiral?”

Kat told him. “Can you make it?”

“It will be on your desk by morning.”

“I need it faster than that.”

Gabriel sighed, “I’ll pull in some of my people who are off duty. You’ll have it in three hours.”

“Thanks Gabriel.”

Gabriel shook his head and started calling in the entire department’s staff. He knew that many Rovers in the Fleet would be astounded to learn that Admiral Hull was responsible for the underground messages that went out. She never ceased to amaze him at her grip on how to handle all the various departments in the government both inside and out of normal procedures.

• • •

Jill sat in Admiral Hull’s office and wondered why she was ordered in. The meeting on changing their ship’s tactics was postponed until next week but her orders were explicit, “Report in immediately.”

She sat as the Admiral stared at her terminal and wondered what was going on. She heard the door open and Jon stuck his head in. Admiral Hull motioned him to a chair and he sat down beside Jill. He looked at her with raised eyebrows and she shook her head and shrugged. He looked at the Admiral and saw she was focused on her computer screen. After an hour, Kat looked up and pressed a button, “Gabriel, this is exactly what I needed, thank you.”

“Glad I could help, Sir.”

Kat looked at Jon and Jill and said, “Bring your chairs around here so you can watch the main display.” Jon picked up both chairs and took them around to the Admiral’s side of the desk and placed them beside her. “I’m going to make a call and I want the two of you to hear it. Hold your comments until it’s over.”

“Yes Sir.”

Kat pressed a button linking her to the microprobes in M87 which had already been programmed. Jill looked up at the main display and saw two creatures appear on it. She immediately saw they were not happy at being contacted.

One of them said, “I thought you didn’t break promises. Contacting us violates you not contacting any of us to support a side.”

Kat smiled, “If you think this contact is for the purpose of supporting you, you are more insane than I think you are.”

“Then what are you doing making this contact?” Jill noticed the other creature on the display had remained silent; but it was clear it was nervous.

“I’m going to see if you are still rational beings or just insane.” The statement was not what the creature expected and he stared at the Admiral. “We have been watching the devastation being done in your galaxy over the past few months and it has become clear that you two are going to be the main survivors. It appears that everyone has now picked a side and it’s going to go down to which of you two ultimately wins. Ordinarily, we could care less how that plays itself out. However, we have also learned that the two of you are going to combine your forces and attack my galaxy before you play your end game.” Kat watched the two closely and saw them glance at each other. That glance confirmed her suspicions. She had no proof other than the sociologist’s prediction but now she knew he was right.

“Just how would you know something that isn’t true?”

“Oh, it’s true. I just want to make sure you understand what the consequences of your behavior will be.” The first speaker leaned back and had a smirk on its face. The second being looked at the first and remained sitting erect.

“My intelligence is that between the two of you; you have more than six billion ships that you could send to attack us.” The first speaker was surprised by that statement. “You estimate that you could overwhelm our ships and destroy all of the civilized planets in this galaxy before we could stop you. You might be right. The price you’d pay in lost ships would be huge but you might be able to pull it off.”

The first speaker smiled at the statement. He knew they could do it.

“I’m going to share some information with both of you. It’s something you should know before you do anything.”

“What could you possibly have that would even remotely interest us?”

“I’m going to play a recording of a conflict that we are currently having with another galaxy. I think it might interest you.” Both of the creatures perked up when Kat said the humans were involved in another fight. If some of their ships were tied down elsewhere, their chances of a successful attack were greatly improved. Kat pressed a button on her console and the recording started.

Jon and Jill watched the attacks that had happened in the Black Creatures galaxy and Jill winced at the loss of the four Rovers in her first command. They watched the giant ships jump in instantly every time a field was activated. They finally saw the twenty ships destroyed by the enemy ship’s new beams and the two creatures watching the recording immediately saw that Earth’s most powerful ships were not a match for the ones that destroyed them.

The recording then moved to image after image of planet after planet existing in primitive conditions. It then changed to recordings of the Masters embracing species after species, feeding on them. The images began appearing faster and faster and no species in the images were the same. It was clear that thousands, no millions of worlds were being eaten by the long armed black creatures. At the end of it the two were silent. Even Jill and Jon were stunned by the savagery they had witnessed.

Kat said, “That species has enslaved every civilized planet in that galaxy and has forced them to live in primitive societies. They are prohibited from developing anything technological.”

The first one said, “It appears you have a daunting task ahead of you.”

The second creature that had remained silent said, “You’ve shown us this for a reason.”

Kat smiled, “I have just one more image to show you.” The image of ten million ships appeared as Kat said, “Those ships are scouts that are going to be sent out for these monsters to expand into other galaxies. We are there fighting them to prevent that happening. We have determined that those creatures have more than eighty times our number in warships. However, I want you both to understand something.” Kat paused and saw she had the two creature’s undivided attention. She leaned forward and stared at the two on her display, “Should you attack my galaxy, I am ordering the two Admirals here with me to pick a fight with those black monsters and lead the ships that chase them to your galaxy.”

The two creatures on the display were shocked beyond speech. They could only stare at the screen. Finally the second one said, “But that would lead to the destruction of your allies here.”

“Don’t think that I don’t know that if you are successful against us, you would then attack them. They won’t be there when you and your civilizations are embraced by the Black Monsters.” The two could only stare at the millions of scouts. The image then changed to one of the monsters holding a creature off the ground with three arms as its beak hit its chest. Kat said, “There’s one other consideration that you might want to think about.” The two couldn’t tear their gaze from the feeding Master. “You don’t know where our colonies are located. Even if you kill every planet in this galaxy, our colonies will continue to work to defeat those monsters. However, once we are able to do that, we will not come and save you from them. You’ll deserve their embrace. And one last item, you won’t have any ship that will stand up to them and you will have been very short sighted to have lost millions of them taking us on.”

The first speaker finally tore his gaze from the image and stared at Kat. The second said, “You know she’ll do it.” The first was the one that remained silent. The second leader said, “We will not allow that nightmare to come here. We will not participate in the attack and if you do decide to attack them we will fight you with them.” The second turned to Kat and said, “Let’s assume we leave you in peace. Will those creatures find us?”

“Not soon. They are a long way from here but their scanners are superior to ours in some areas and they will come here eventually if they aren’t stopped. We do suspect that their first order of business will be to find the ones that sent ships to their galaxy. That will speed up the process of their arrival.”

The first finally managed to say, “Those creatures are far worse than the Red Sector.”

“At least you remember some history. Why do you think the Alliance was formed a thousand years ago? It was to stop creatures like that from killing us. You have lost your way and forgotten your past.”

The first speaker stared at Kat and finally said, “You would bring them here close to your galaxy?”

“You forget; we won’t be here to greet them if you attack us and destroy all our worlds; that will not be an issue. Our colonies are safer with their attention here. It will take them quite a long time to enslave all of your planets. We can use the time to find the means of defeating them.”

“We will not attack your galaxy.”

Kat laughed, “Do you think your promise means anything? Don’t be ridiculous.” Kat turned to Jon and Jill, “I want a thousand ships sent to that galaxy prepared to start a fight. If you’re notified that our galaxy is being attacked, lead those creatures to the home planets of these two first.”

Jon said, “It will be my pleasure, Sir.”

Kat turned to the two on the display and smiled, “I’m sure both of you will make a great meal for them. I understand they go after the leaders first.” Kat cut the connection.

Jill looked at Admiral Hull and slowly shook her head. Kat said, “We’ll do it. Make no mistake about that.”

Jon said, “And those two know the truth when they see it. They believe you.”

“They should, Admiral Anders. They will pay for coming after the planets I’ve sworn to protect.” Kat looked at Jill, “Get some ships out and have them prepared to do it.”

“Yes Sir.”

• • •

The two creatures looked at each other on their displays. They remained silent for a long time and finally the first said, “She will do what she says.” The second nodded. There was another long moment of silence and the first replayed the recording of the species being fed on by the Masters.

“What are you thinking?”

“We need to send this recording out to every planet in the galaxy along with the Admiral’s promise.”

“Why?”

“Because I believe her; these monsters exist. You are not my enemy.” The first pointed at the image on the display, “That creature is. We need to scare the hatred out of our galaxy and focus on rebuilding something that can take them on. I have no stomach for continuing our disagreements.”

“How can I believe you?”

“Just take a look at that image. Now how do you feel?”

The second looked at the image and said, “You look much more preferable than that.”

“I don’t know what is going to happen, but everyone here needs to know what nightmares are out there. Get the recording out and we’ll let what happens happen.”

The second nodded and the display went dark. The first continued to stare at the image and felt a cold wind blow through his soul.

D
at and Gresha greeted the sun in each other’s arms. Gresha pulled him close and said, “The second day of the rest of our lives. It already looks even better than yesterday.” Dat smiled and leaned down and kissed her. He said, “Well, let’s see if this works.” He pulled the ring finger on his left hand into his palm.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Loree. Are you ready to broadcast that frequency?”

“I am.”

“Give us a few moments to get dressed and go down to the field. I’ll let you know when to send it.”

“Standing by.”

Dat and Gresha walked down to the field as the community’s farmers went out into the field. They sat down on the wall and Dat looked out at the field, “I’m trying to remember where that ship is located.”

“It runs the length of the field and extends a half a mile beyond each end.”

Dat shook his head, “Boy, that’s huge. Do you remember if any of it is located under the community?”

Gresha thought a moment, “One edge might be located at this wall.”

Dat looked at her, “Do you think this wall is here for a reason?”

“The wall was here before the community.”

“Now that’s interesting.”

“Do tell.”

“Loree, send the frequency.”

Dat and Gresha stared out at the field and watched to see if anything happened. Nothing did. They stood up on the wall to get a better view and Dat said, “Send it again.” They scanned the field and watched the farmers to see if any of them spotted anything happening that would make them move. Again; nothing happened. “Loree, do your scanners see anything different?”