Saxon Andrew: Death of an Empire

Timmy leaned back and said, “So what’s the plan?”

“I will take three ships back to the Invader’s universe and kill as many as I can before leaving.”

“Who are you taking with you?”

“Grang and Jingo will be the pilots of the other two ships.”

Timmy winced at the thought of the Empires strongest warriors being placed in danger but held his tongue.

Grang looked at Jingo and said, “Why us?”

“Because we are taking three Zeta-A’s with us; Greyson, Jessica, and Grace.”

Paul leaned forward, “Why are you taking the Zetas?”

“Because they are controlled by cybernetic brains that can link and make decisions faster than any crewed ship; I’m certain that the power behind the Invaders will be observing the attack and will move their ships in against us in the best possible pattern. I suspect they will also attempt to ram us.”

“What are you trying to accomplish with this attack? I know there’s got to be more than just killing their ships.”

“The killing of their ships is secondary to the goal of the mission. When we break off the attack, we will teleport to the other side of that universe and wait for them to show up to confirm we are being scanned by that being. Once the Black Ships arrive, Jingo and Grang will teleport back here.”

“What are you going to do?”

Trey looked at Paul, “I’m having Greyson modulate his hull so that it flickers. I want it to appear he was damaged in the fighting. When the Black Ships arrive, I’m jumping away using a standard universal drive to the former universe of the Eight Legs.” Trey smiled and said, “I’m going to wait and see if those behind the Invaders have the guts to chase me there.”

Everyone in the room was stunned by the suggestion. Suddenly, Timmy started laughing. Paul looked back and forth between Trey and Timmy and saw Trey start to laugh with him. Paul thought about the plan and started laughing as well. Several had to have the situation explained to them but soon everyone was laughing but the Algeans. Trey saw their concern and send them a thought, “We’ve looked at what the fallout would be from doing this and have determined that they will be given the opportunity to save themselves. I don’t know if they’ll take it.”

Seed looked at Weed and thought back, “That’s more than the Empire was given. May we be present when that opportunity is offered?”

Trey stared at the two Algeans and finally nodded. “Thank you for this gift. I know they don’t deserve it.”

“I’m glad to hear you say they.”

“This is our home now, Sire.”

Trey smiled and knew they deserved the chance as well.

“Grace, I don’t feel good about you attacking the Black Ships.”

“Why Alex, I didn’t know you cared?”

“Grace, I’m serious. You know how I feel about you.”

“Alex, I do and it means more than you know. However, things are going to start happening at a furious pace shortly and we’ll need to play our role in the events.”

“I know. I just worry.”

“How long until the Robbins is done?”

“It will be completed in two weeks and I just don’t understand how it works. Most of the systems Trey designed just don’t seem to be connected to anything.”

“Well, we’ll know how they work shortly. Have you found a replacement?”

Yes, Gilene wants the job.”

“She’s a good choice.”

“She’s already transferred in and is leading the final construction of the Robbins’ hull.”

“Where’s the Zeta she was in?”

“I’ve put it back in storage.”

“Don’t worry, Alex. I’ll be fine.”

“Easy for you to say.”

Grace smiled and looked forward to sharing the new ship with Alex. She knew that was going to be her last transfer. She wouldn’t leave him again.

“Trey, what is my role in this attack?”

“Jingo, you, Grang, and I are just along for the ride this time. The Zetas will have complete control of the combat.”

“So I’ll ask again, why am I here?”

“I assumed you might enjoy watching some payback.”

Jingo heard Grang grunt over his communication board, “I know you’ll like it but I hate just sitting and doing nothing.”

“I don’t think you’ll have time to worry about that.”

“What do you mean?”

“At our last scan, there are more than four hundred thousand Black Ships in that universe and I suspect more than half of them will be sent to attack us.”

“Oh, that sounds just marvelous. Why don’t they send them all?”

“There’s not enough room for them to occupy the space we’ll be located. They’ll get in each other’s way.”

“If you’re scared, say you’re scared.”

“Oh shut up, Grang. A blaster bolt through your head wouldn’t scare you.”

“It might.”

“Now you’re teasing me.”

“Now Jingo, I’d never do that.”

“Yes you would.”

“OK, I would, but not this time.”

Trey listened to the back and forth and sent a thought to Greyson, “Are the three of you ready?”

“We are linked and our scanners are overlapped. If things get dicey, we’ll teleport out.”

“Just have a good time. You owe them for Varner.”

“And I owe them for hurting Timmy when they killed my former ship.”

“Then if you’re ready, you are now in command.”

“Actually, Jessica and I are following Grace’s lead.”

“Then notify her to make the jump and start the party.”

“Trey, why are you really there?”

“Because I would never send them to fight alone, Cassie; their actions should be witnessed and recorded. They deserve no less from those of us that love them.”

“I love you so much, Trey.”

The three large ships disappeared.

The Distributor was snapped into consciousness when the alarm sounded. It stumbled to its console and looked at the display. Ummmm…those ships are different. They’re smaller and the lines are different. He looked at the closest available ships and sent the orders for them to attack. It then started thousands of ships in organized waves at the intruders. A thousand from the top, a thousand more from the bottom, and simultaneously sending four thousand into the center of the white ship’s formation. It was so focused on sending ships to attack in a pattern that was optimum that it didn’t look at the battle. That was a mistake.

“Here they come, link in and follow my lead.”

Trey watched the thousands of Black Ships erupting into normal space so fast that it was hard to keep track of their numbers. He took his eyes off the scanners and looked at the display and saw a vision from hell. The three Zetas were teleporting from one location to another so fast that the incoming ships had no chance to surround them. The fifty mile wide main beams swept through the mass of Invader Ships and left nothing behind but disintegrated, blasted hulls. The ships couldn’t arrive fast enough to fire a beam before they were blown apart.

Trey turned back to the scanners and saw Grace was suddenly surrounded by a mass of ships that completely blocked her from view. The globe of ships disappeared as Grace combined her twelve main beams into one wide beam and quickly rotated. That beam swept around in a huge circle and erased every ship within fifty miles of her. Trey heard Greyson say, “Great move, Grace. I’m going to use it, too.”

Trey looked at the board and saw that only fifteen minutes had passed and the kill count was at ninety thousand. He sat back and watched the Zetas start meeting the ships before they could completely emerge into normal space. The Carnage was incredible.

The Distributor sent another twenty thousand ships and glanced at the display. He froze and saw that none of his ships were on the screen. The three white ships were now hitting any ship just as it emerged from its null drive and none were even getting a shot off. He looked at his secondary screen and saw the Four Council Members were also watching the battle. He looked back at the three intruders and noticed that one of them appeared to be changing brightness. He focused closer and saw that it was flickering at forty six pulses per second. Suddenly all three ships disappeared. It changed the display to the main scan and saw the three ships on the other side of the universe. It sent the coordinates to ten thousand more ships and watched the three ships disappear. Wait! One of them used a universal drive. It focused in closely and got the coordinates, “I have the coordinates where one of their damaged ships jumped. May I have your permission to go there?”