Andrew Saxon - Demon's sacrifice

The communications male issued the orders and watched as millions of ships left for the site of the disturbance. After ten minutes he reported, “Nest Mother, there were no jump tracks and no ships in the area we scanned.”

The Nest Mother was confused. “Are you sure a universal drive was used?” The ships had arrived in plenty of time to read jump tracks if a ship had entered there and jumped away. Could it be that it was not visible?

“Nest Mother I have no doubt about a drive being used in that area.”

“Have another family report to the site and then order both families to fly through the area covering every inch of that space.”

Thirty million ships began crisscrossing the area of the emergence. The Nest Mother watched her display as her children looked for a ship.

Edison teleported away from the entry point to a point where he could barely see the Nest Mother’s ship; there were millions of ships around her vessel. He scanned their locations and downloaded it into his board and then teleported away. He sent his download to the bridge’s main display and waited for Destiny to decide about how to approach. The bridge crew took one look at the screen and was dumbfounded. The Nest Mother’s ship was totally surrounded by main ships out to ninety thousand miles.

Life looked at Grena on his display, “Are you sorry we accepted this mission?”

“No, love; I would have been sorry if you were here without me. Even if we die today, at least we do it together. That is all I really want; to be with you.”

“I think we can do this, and if we do make it out of here I want you to become my mate.”

“You could have asked me before now. How am I going to show you how happy you just made me?”

“I thought about that but I want you to know going in that I love you and always will. I just couldn’t wait if things don’t work out.”

“I accept, Life. No matter what happens today, I will always be your mate.’

Life smiled and felt his resolve grow to survive this mission. Grena just sat, waited, and felt her heart sing.”

Stem looked at the screen and said, “How are we going to get through those?”

Destiny looked at the display, “I am open to suggestions.”

Sen-Gen shook her head, “I don’t see any way we can get a clear shot at that vessel. The penetrators must have four hundred miles to get up to speed before they hit.”

Everyone remained silent and began fearing that all of their plans were wasted effort. “Father, I have an idea.”

Destiny started and then said, “Go ahead, Edison.”

“We have more than ten thousand screened probes on this ship. Why don’t we teleport them outside this system and then have them use their jump drives to jump back in on the other side of the Nest Mother’s ship. They will detect the probes breaking back into normal space and it should cause some kind of reaction from those surrounding the ship. We’ll turn the probe’s red screens off before they jump back and it might make them think an attack is in progress. I suspect some of the ships on our side will move around to defend against the incoming probes. Just before the probes jump I’ll teleport just outside the outer edge of her defenders and scan for a clear approach to fire the penetrators. All we need is one of the ships in the inner group next to the hull to move. Once we fire, I suspect all of the ships will move to our side just as we teleport to the other side. It’s the only thing I can think of that might give us a chance.”

Destiny looked at Stem and Sen-Gen and they were nodding. Sen-Gen looked at the display and said, “Let’s do it. I am going to have the probes programmed to detonate their power cells just after they enter normal space.”

Stem thought, “Then have them jump in among the outer edge of ships and spread them out.”

Sen-Gen pressed her com, “Attention probe storage; we are programming the stored probes for auto teleport and jump coordinates followed by self-destruct. Check your status boards and insure that all of them respond receipt of the download. Notify me as soon as they are ready.”

Destiny sent a thought to Edison, “Thank you child. That was good use of your brain.”

“Let us hope it works.”

“We’ll know shortly.”

Stem pressed his com, “Admiral, the probes are programmed. They will jump back in groups of four hundred every four seconds.”

Sen-Gen looked around the bridge, “Teleport the probes in ten seconds from my mark; Edison, you have control of the ships navigation. Weapons, standby for firing the first three penetrators.” Sen-Gen looked around and announced over the intercom, “Mark.”

The Nest Mother was watching her display of the ships searching for the possible hidden vessel when the communications male shouted, “We have explosions close to the ship.”

The Nest Mother jerked around and saw giant explosions among her defenders. Her fear rose dramatically, “Get your ships between me and those attackers. Now!”

Every Supreme Male thought she was ordering them to engage so they all ordered their families to the other side of the huge ship.”

Destiny watched his screen closely and then saw one of the innermost main ships move away from the vessel it was guarding. There was a thirty thousand mile wide opening and Edison teleported the Stars End into it. “We have a clear shot, Admiral.”

Sen-Gen saw the giant ship below and ordered, “Fire the first penetrator package.”

The first three penetrators ignited and disappeared too fast to follow. The first struck the ship and disappeared followed by a huge explosion from the second. Sen-Gens computer notified him that the first penetrator had breached the hull into the interior. The second penetrator had ignited and burned a path to the outer hull. The third penetrator was a full second behind the first two penetrators and entered the hole in the hull with the two Searchers following immediately behind it. All four disappeared into the giant green ship.

The Nest Mother felt her ship shake violently. Just as she recovered she was thrown off her bed to the floor as a second violent shaking hit. “What’s happening?” She turned to go back to her command structure when a silver field formed above her and dropped down on her. Right after that another silver field appeared and the command chamber disappeared.

The communications Male saw the two lights appear and strike the ship from the opposite side of the explosions. “We have been hit on the side away from the explosions. Move to defend us.”

The Supreme Males felt fear for the Nest Mother and millions of their ships rushed around to the site of the strike. Edison had teleported to just above the green ship’s surface and waited. He knew the Searchers were going to have to travel 18,000 miles through the center of the huge vessel and it would take time. Ships began moving toward the site where the second penetrator had exited the ship and Edison notified the bridge. “We have thousands of Main Ships approaching the exit point.”

Sen-Gen ordered, “Extend the repulsion screen to eight thousand miles. Penetrator crews, prepare to commence firing on my order.”

Life and Grena followed the third penetrator into the giant ship until their computers told them they had arrived at the center of the ship, “Wild Man, grab the Mother and let’s get out of here.”

The computer searched for the chamber but couldn’t find it. Then, Grena’s ship located it and teleported the Nest Mother out.

Grena sent a thought, “I’ve got the Mother. Life, take the chamber.”

Life’s computer said, “I think I’ve found the chamber.”

“Take whatever you want; just get us moving.”

“Got it; on our way behind Grena.”