Saxon Andrew: Escape to Earth-The Legacy of a Conqueror

“They love it. They aren’t armed with anything more than bright lights that replace their disruptors and they are not given any instruction except to go out and play.” Lukas looked at Chris, “They can do things with a pod that are absolutely impossible. They can already fly rings around our veteran pilots and they’re getting better as they grow up.”

“How many?”

“There will be more than a million in six years.”

“I do hope you’re looking for the leaders among them?”

“Piper is assisting with that task. I’ve also asked Pat to look in on them and he’s also pointing out the ones to keep our eyes on.”

Chris stared at Lukas, “I really hate that our children have to live like this.”

“Don’t. They love it.”

Chris stared at Lukas and said, “Are you saying our species is born for war?”

“No, I’m not. But I am saying that we’re really, really good at it.”

“I can live with that. I’ll see you later.”

“What are you going to do?”

Chris’s expression was a mask of anger, “The first thing I’m going to do is handle the issue of our galaxy being scouted. Then the Fellowship has to be dealt with.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“Not really, but Pat may not like your killing them after all he’s done to defend them.”

“Then Pat needs to wake up. I’m not going try hard not to kill them but I am removing their claws.”

“They deserve what you choose to do.” Chris and Lukas looked around and heard, “I felt responsible for who they are because of what my species has made them. I observed the trial. They cannot change and I am satisfied that the ones that deserve to live are now working with you.”

Chris felt the sorrow in Pat’s thoughts and said, “I am not going to kill them if it can be avoided.”

“I will not stand in your way if you choose to do so.”

“Thanks, Pat.” Chris walked out of the room.

Lukas watched Chris exit and said, “Thank you for not allowing me to kill him before he was born, Pat.”

“I didn’t prevent you. You did that on your own.” Lukas’ head went back and wondered about Salud saying it was Chris’s destiny to be a conqueror. He continued to think about it until she returned an hour later to apologize for her anger. He shushed her and pulled her into his arms.

Chris met Audrey at the spaceport and they boarded Barbie. “Why did you want me to meet you here?”

“I’ve been given a new job.”

“What is it?”

“I have been chosen to go out and conquer all the civilizations that represent a danger to Earth, Eden, and the Milky Way.”

Audrey stared at Chris and finally started shaking her head, “You have got to be kidding me! I thought your decision not to destroy the Green Fleets was justified because we are not conquerors.”

Chris shrugged, “That was then; this is now.”

“Why you?”

“Why not?”

“I guess I don’t see you as the blood thirsty type.”

“I’m not and I guess that’s part of the reason Lukas and Salud chose me to do it.”

Audrey stared at him, “No one else took part in the selection?”

“Do they not have the authority to make it?”

“I guess they do. I just wonder if all of the others would support changing our philosophy from a peaceful outlook to an aggressive approach.”

“How do you feel about it?”

Audrey thought for a moment and sighed, “I guess I’m glad we’re going to take this war to them instead of waiting for them to attack us.”

“Because….?”

“I don’t want our child to be put in danger.”

“Salud has children, Julie has babies, Sarah is pregnant, and my mother is also expecting a child. I’ve looked at the fleet personnel files and a huge number of our warriors already have children or are expecting a new arrival. Do you think they would feel any different than you?”

Audrey’s eyes narrowed, “Why is there an explosion of pregnancies?”

“Throughout human history, whenever humans have been at war, the birthrate sky rocketed. It’s part of our survival instinct when populations are under the threat of being killed. Lukas is going to announce the new structure shortly.”

“Did he say when?”

“I suspect after he discusses it with the Welken, Myot, and Johan. He wants me to have some time to get up to speed on the most recent events before he gives up with the task of organizing our forces. That’s why we’re here.”

“Oh?”

“Barbie.”

“Yes, Chris. And congratulations.”

“Thank you. Did you see anything that happened during the most recent invasion that I need to know about?”

“There are a number of events that took place which changes the overall picture.”

“Such as?”

“Our probes in M-87 have determined that the Green Civilization is no longer the chosen tool of the Legends. That role has been handed back to the Progen.”

“That is news.”

“You also didn’t know that the Commander of the Green Forces in M-86 decided to leave early with more than two million warships and return to M-87 before the Progen Warships arrived. His fleet arrived right after the attack from M-84 started and his fleets prevented thousands of their planets from being destroyed. The space battles continued until the main invasion fleet returned and ended it.”

“Do you know how many planets they lost?”

“No, but the number was in the tens of thousands. Your allowing the Invasion Fleet to escape saved a huge number of their worlds.”

Chris sighed, “I hope that was a good decision.”

“There’s something else.”

“What is that?” The Pod’s display illuminated and they saw a huge Black Warship appear outside a formation of Green Warships and, after a slight pause, it fired on the largest Green Ship and blasted it into ashes. “What happened there, Barbie?”

“That Green Warship was the flagship of the Commander that left M-86 early. The Legends punished him for leaving without their approval.”

Audrey shook her head, “Oh my God!”

Chris’s expression turned grim, “That Commander had to be one of his civilization’s great heroes after holding back the Invaders from M-84. This can’t sit well with them!”

“It doesn’t. The Legends also called the Commander of the Invasion Force in but declined to kill him when they watched the recording of the attack on his fleets. They realized it was good judgment to flee. They didn’t know you allowed them to go unharmed. I suspect if they did, they would have killed him as well.” Chris sat back in his chair and shook his head. “There’s one more thing.”

“Yes.”

“That Commander is now the Supreme Leader of his civilization. The surviving worlds demanded he be promoted to lead them.”

Chris nodded and wondered what that Commander thought about the Legends now. He stared at the display as it showed the destruction of the Green Warship again. “Where did that black ship come from?”

“It’s one of those defending the planet where the Legends are located. Our probe there has detected about a million of them around the planet.”

“What can you tell me about it?”

“It’s more powerful than any other warship in that galaxy.”

“Can we handle it?”

“I don’t know. The probe didn’t use an active scan on it. If it did, it would have been detected and probably destroyed.”

“That’s a question we are going to need answered eventually.” Chris ended the recording that was playing over and over, “Do you have the location of the six M-84 scouts here in our galaxy?”

“I do.”

Chris pressed his panel and Chad appeared, “Admiral, I am going to remove some hostile warships that are scouting our galaxy. I need you to assign three Pods to five of them and have them skip in and surround them.”