Ashes of the Realm - Greyson's Revenge (17 page)

Jeremiah knew that the former soldiers were going to have to play the role of slaves until the other Province could be faced. The Ambassador from that Province was due in a week and he was going to have to put on the show of his life.

“Your Majesty, we have enlisted the aid of Carrie and Ashley to send ambassadors to the planets that Daulun conquered. We have told them about Daulun’s demise and that a good government was not in power on New Ulmerton. They, unfortunately, do not want to have any dealings with New Ulmerton under any circumstances. I was wondering what you plan to do with them.”

Jeramiah sighed, “I can’t really blame them for feeling that way. Daulun is a name that will go down in history as an evil tyrant.” He looked at Scotty, “I understand that you have promised protection to two other kingdoms.”

“We have.”

“Are they planets that you rule?”

“Not yet. We will not accept any new members until they prove they will live by our values. Queen Carrie’s kingdom is close to being accepted. They have pleaded for membership and the Zord have confirmed the leaders of their worlds are committed.”

“May I request your protection and possible membership in your Empire for those planets we conquered and for us when we can prove our commitment to your satisfaction?”

“You have lost all the worlds that you’ve conquered and we will assist them in reconstruction. You’re alone now.”

“Not really. We have you and the other two kingdoms to trade with and I think we can eventually win back the good will of those worlds we mistreated. I do know that without your help, we stand no chance against the other Province. My world had the most modern factories and up-to-date ship building facilities in this sector. We can assist you in preparing for the coming conflict.”

Scotty stared at Jeramiah and then looked at Julie, “What do you think?”

“I think you should be there when this Ambassador arrives to help King Jongo in the meetings. I also think that if it comes down to it, you should move New Ulmerton to protect it after the meeting.”

Scotty and Jeramiah did a double take at the suggestion. “Are you able to move a planet?” Scotty looked at Jeramiah and nodded. “Well, I could certainly use some help. I’m not sure what we’re going to do when our shipments of raw materials stop. I suspect that will trigger the invasion.”

“We’re going to assist you with that. We are going to send you what you need from the kingdoms and all of the former worlds you conquered have agreed to continue providing their share. With all of us chipping in, no one planet will have to suffer.” Scotty smiled and said, “I’ll be there when the Ambassador arrives.”

Jeramiah smiled and leaned back, “I am changing the name of New Ulmerton to New Hope. I am also changing my title to Baron and I look forward to the time when you accept us into your Empire.”

“Why didn’t you take the title of Duke?”

Jeramiah smiled, “We both know how much evil is attributed to that title. I think that title should never be used again.”

Scotty nodded slowly, “Baron Jongo, my Empire will take you under our protection and do all we can to defend you. I look forward to your acceptance as well.”

Jeramiah stood and kneeled, “Thank you, Your Majesty. We will do all we can to make that happen as quickly as possible.”

Scotty and Julie sat and looked up at the stars after Jeramiah teleported away. “I’m worried about that Province.”

“I am, too.” Scotty watched a shooting star flash across the sky and smiled, “I was just thinking that maybe we shouldn’t wait for them to invade.”

“What?”

“Maybe they need to be preoccupied by issues facing them in their backyard.”

Julie smiled, “It appears Grang and Jingo will avoid boredom again.”

“Yes, it does.”

The three Searchers holding station at the jump limit of Lizella detected a stardrive breaking into normal space. Their scans showed a large shuttle moving toward the planet. “Well, what have we here?”

“The two of you go check it out.”

Two Searchers jumped out and appeared on each side of the shuttle. “You will stop and lower your screen.”

“Hello, I was just traveling home and thought I would stop and see if there were planets here that might be interested in trade. I see that the planet in this system is heavily industrialized. We are primarily an agricultural society and need the tools to build industries. Are you open to the possibility of trade?”

One Searcher snickered, “Are you that stupid. We don’t need agricultural products but we can always use a transport such as the one you’re in. You will lower your screen and disembark or we will destroy you.”

“Surely you know I can do you no harm. I’m just attempting to open trade relations.”

“This is your last warning. Do as we’ve ordered or I will fire on you.”

“Jess, it looks like they mean business.”

“Let’s give them one more opportunity.”

“I thought Searchers didn’t attack those that couldn’t defend themselves?

“You thought wrong. You have ten seconds to comply.”

“Tesa, it looks like you’re right.”

“You should at least warn them.”

“I feel I must tell you that if you fire on me, I will defend myself.”

Both Searchers laughed and one fired at the shuttle. The beam stopped at the shuttle’s screen. The Searcher was surprised but raised the power of his beam and fired again without penetrating the shuttle’s defenses. Both Searchers then opened fire with their main beams and were shocked when the shuttles screen absorbed both beams without any change in color.

“I warned you.”

The Searcher that was still holding station at the planet was stunned by what it was witnessing. Then it saw two beams erupt from the black shuttle and blow through the screens of the two Gamma ships and vaporize them. It watched as the shuttle turned toward it and then it heard, “I guess if you don’t want to trade, I’ll just have to take what I want.”

The Searcher jumped away and gave the alarm to Fleet Headquarters.

“Tesa, I think we can go now.”

“I would really like to see what happens next.”

“Ok, we’ll teleport in to the next planet and hide inside its atmosphere. We should be able to see from there.”

“I wonder how Greyson and Timmy are doing.”

“Greyson just let me know that they had to kill six but now they’re moving to their next assignment.”

“Do we have time to hang around and see?”

“We have an hour. Oh, here they are.”

Three hundred Searchers jumped into Lizella’s system and spread out scanning for the intruder. Tesa and Jessica recorded them and Tesa said, “My, that language is really offensive.”

“You know they’re just a bunch of sailors. What else would you expect? Time to go.” Jessica teleported out to her next target.

The Orange Being was leaning back in his chair when his Sensor Leader said, “I’m hearing reports of multiple ships being killed.”

“What!”

“Yes, it appears that more than forty ships have been killed by ships that are impervious to their weapons.”

“Find out where?”

“The reports are coming in from all over this King’s Realm.”

“We need to find one of those ships.”

“It appears that when reinforcements arrive, they have already left.”

The Ship’s Commander thought about what was happening. If he left, there was a chance his ship would be discovered prematurely. He knew he could handle the ships of the King he had been scouting but these new ships represented an unknown enemy. “Lower our screen and contact our link; then ask for instructions.”

The probe outside the ship saw the force field lower around the giant ship and it took a quick passive scan and moved quickly to the hull where it attached itself.

“We are ordered to remain hidden. This is a war between the local civilizations and we should get a scan of one of those ships during their conflict.”

The Commander showed his disgust and motioned for the field to go back up.

The Sensor Leader saw that variance in the cosmic ray background again but said nothing.

“Grace, I have a scan of that ship.”

“And.”

“It’s worse that I thought. The weapons on that ship can destroy any ship in our universe.”

“Even the ones we’ve updated.”

“Yes.”

“So what do we do?”

“We have to discuss this with your friends and start arming them.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course not but we have no choice. We can only hope what we have will be enough. I’m not certain it will be.”

Grace felt Alex’s fear and began to feel it as well. Where was the Realm when you needed it?

King Jilico Border listened to the reports coming in and felt his anger growing. He looked up as Rehoben entered his personal quarters and stared as his trusted advisor came forward, “I’ve just seen the reports, Your Majesty. We’ve been unable to catch one of these perpetrators.”

“I want them found and eliminated. Ro, I’m holding you personally responsible for their destruction.”

Ro looked at Jilico and started shaking his head, “Your Majesty, you have ordered me to leave in three days to go put pressure on Daulun.”

“Forget Daulun! Send word you’ve been delayed and get on this now. These are the first successful attacks against us and I will not tolerate it. I want those ships found and the ones that sent them destroyed. Do you understand!?!”

“Yes, Your Majesty. However, I need you to help guide me. How do I find these ships when they jump away before we can arrive?

“They leave jump tracks. Follow them.”

“We have followed them and lose them after three jumps. There are no tracks to follow after their third jump.”

Jilico stared at Ro, looked at his display, and turned back to Ro “How is that possible?”

“We have no idea but we’re chasing our tails trying to find them.”

Jilico looked back at his display and saw another three ships destroyed. He stood and walked to the window overlooking his capital city and put his hands behind his back and swayed back and forth. Ro remained silent. He knew that the King was at his most dangerous at moments like this. Finally Jilico said, “They are attacking our ships that are holding station outside the jump limit, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Move the Searchers two hours inside the jump limit. If they move inside we will trap them. They will have to come to us.”

Ro nodded, “I will issue the orders immediately.”

Ro left the room and Jilico continued to sway looking out at Olympos, his capital city.

Scotty answered his com and saw Jeramiah Jongo, “Your Majesty, the Ambassador has notified us that he has been delayed.”

Scotty smiled, “Well, we’ve bought some time. Make good use of it solidifying your position.”

“The people have embraced our vision, Your Majesty. The name change and my reduction in rank have proven my good intentions. Everything is moving smoothly.”

“That’s good, Jeremiah. Keep me informed on your progress.”

“I will.”

Scotty turned off his com and immediately received another beep, “BC, what’s up?”

“Your, Majesty, Grace has contacted me and requests you come see her as soon as possible.”

“Did she say why?”

“No she didn’t but I sense it’s something serious.”

“I’m bringing Julie this time. Let her know and teleport us aboard.”

Scotty and Julie looked at the recording of the giant black ship on their display as Alex described it, “Its force field is the strongest I have ever seen and that includes the strongest ships of the Stars Realm. The energy being used is of a different order of magnitude and the beams are just as formidable. They remind me of the ships that the Red Demons used to attack the Realm. The psychic ships were just barely able to defeat them and those ships are no longer available for us to use against them. They were taken by the Reg when they left.”

Julie stared at the display shaking her head, “Where did this ship come from?”

“It did not come from another universe. I believe it came from another dimension.”

Scotty looked up, “Is that significant?”

“Yes, it is. The Demons had eliminated all of the really powerful species in the universes but I don’t believe they searched the dimensions for possible adversaries. It requires a truly advanced civilization to be able to travel between dimensions. It appears that whoever sent that ship has that level of technology and represents a grave danger to this universe.”

“Tell me what you think, Alex.”

“I believe that ship is an initial scout that was sent to scout our universe for an invasion. It parked outside the most powerful force in this universe and has been watching it for years. I think that once that Province takes control, the invasion will start. All they will need to do is defeat that King to take control of everything. They’ll just wait and let us weaken ourselves by fighting each other.”

Scotty stared at the display and said, “So your advanced weapons will not defeat this ship?”

“In my opinion, without having the chance to scan their weapons in operation, they will not.”

“So what do we do?”

“I’ve called you here to ask you the same question.”

“What makes you think I’m more qualified to answer it than you are?”

“You’re repaired teleportation boards that I could not. You’ve increased the power of your ship’s weapons without my assistance. I can go on but I think you get the picture.”

“We need access to your facility.”

“I am programmed to prevent that and it is not a program that I can override.”

“Well maybe you can give a hint.”

“The most important word in the Stars Realm repeated three times followed by the second most important three times.”

Julie looked at Scotty and asked, “Who established this center.”

“The Gardners.”

Julie smiled and said, “Rose, Rose, Rose, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy.”

There was a slight pause and then they heard, “You have been granted access. How did you figure that out?”

“I thought about what was the most important thing to a person and it dawned on me that it has to be their children. I know my child’s name will be the most important thing to me.”