No Technology Is Invincible (The Death Prophecies-Book Four 4) (26 page)

“Which means it won’t produce as powerful a jet as Andromeda.”

Gabby looked back at Gabe and sighed, “What are we going to do?”

“I really haven’t given much thought to that. I’ve just been thinking that in a short period of time we’ve now discovered four species capable of eradicating mankind.”

“Four?”

“Think about it, Gabby. We allied with the Darkness Civilization and gave them our communications systems along with our technology. Now they’re pretty much calling the shots in our galaxy. I know they say they won’t attack us out of consideration for assisting them. But do you like the idea of another civilization dictating to us what to do?” Gabby shook her head. “That’s one. The Builders and the Black Species are both capable of destroying us as well and they could probably destroy the Darkness as well.”

Gabby shrugged, “That’s three. Are you considering that last species we encountered at the black hole we went through as the fourth?”

“Do you think they could beat us?”

Gabby stared at Gabe and then nodded, “But they allowed us to scan their most powerful warship.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“I really wish you’d stop saying that.”

“Gabby, the warships fighting in the Ritual were not nearly as strong as the ship that came and confronted us. Do you think they would put their most powerful warship there to referee the Ritual? Even if they didn’t, that warship is far beyond the other three aggressive species we’ve found.”

“But they aren’t aggressive?”

“As long as you don’t violate their space or do something they don’t like.” Gabe paused and shook his head slowly, “I wonder what they would have done if they took our data and found that we still killed each other like we once did before the Prophet. I do hope you noticed that they made mention of him.”

“I did.”

“And if we still killed each other, do you think they would have allowed us to continue on our way?”

Gabby’s eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips, “Well thank you very much!”

“For what?”

“The nightmares that are going to keep me awake.”

“I’m just saying, Gabby, that our place in the universe has changed in a big way over a very short period of time.”

“That’s why you were reluctant to stop and help them here?”

“It is. I suspect that we’re going to pass millions of aggressive species on our way back to our galaxy. If we stop to assist vulnerable civilizations, we’ll never make it home.”

“You could have told me this.”

“That’s why I’m telling you now; we won’t be stopping again. However, I did stop and now that we’ve seen what’s happening, it is incumbent on us to take action. Gabe looked at the list of Death Prophecies on the front wall, “We should always do the right thing, even when it isn’t convenient.”

Gabby sighed and looked at him, “Gabe, are we sure we’re helping the right civilization?”

“I’ve wondered about that as well. That civilization refusing to assist us has caused me to wonder.”

“How do we find out?”

Gabe looked up, “Poul, have you considered what we’re doing?”

“I have.”

“And?”

“The eleven civilizations you’ve recruited to free the captured planets have all conquered other planets.”

“Now you tell me?”

“Hey, they haven’t blown a planet out of existence. I think there are levels of evil and the Planet Killers are the Apex Predator here.”

Gabby sighed, “So we’ll just be trading one master for another on those conquered planets?”

“They at least won’t destroy the planet they live on.”

Poul, did you do a scan of those planets?”

“I did.”

“And?”

“They are very much like Earth was when humans fought world wars. There were numerous old sites of nuclear explosions. It is possible that the Planet Killers conquered them to prevent them from attacking them one day.”

Gabe shook his head, “We should have just kept going. I’ve already seen where good intentions can do more harm than just staying out of it.”

Ali walked on the bridge, “Where did that happen?”

“Look no further than our assisting the Darkness. Now they’re a real and present danger to Earth. We should have just told them how to close the black hole and backed out.”

Gabby looked at Gabe, “What are we going to do?”

“Poul, how many missiles are the communication’s probe able to use?”

“Twenty.”

“I didn’t know they had missile capability!?”

Gabe sighed, “Gabby, they need some method to prevent their destruction. Poul, take us to the home world of the Planet Killers and open a communication channel.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“Of course I’m not sure but I have to try and put this genie back in the bottle.”

Gabe looked at the front monitor and saw the planet with huge Grey Warships in orbit. Gabe shook his head and wondered if grey was the school color of evil civilizations. Poul said, “The channel is open.”

“I wish to communicate with the one that is the leader of this planet.”

“Their communications have just gone off the chart.”

“I can see that, Poul.” Gabe keyed his communicator again, “You can scream all you want and you won’t be able to detect us. If I need to start destroying the ships you have in orbit to get you to start acting responsibly, I won’t hesitate to do so. You have thirty seconds to start talking or I’ll destroy one every minute until you do.” The channel was still filled with massive chatter and Gabe activated the tactical program on his visor. He targeted a giant vessel further out from the planet than the others and locked a targeting symbol on it. He waited and then said, “Times up.” He pressed the trigger on the thruster handle and a missile shot out of the launch tube. It bore down on the giant warship and flashed through its force field. The giant vessel went up in a giant explosion that blew out a massive shockwave. “You now have less than a minute before I destroy another vessel.”

He waited and then targeted another warship. “WAIT! What do you want?!”

“Good. You are an intelligent species. I’ve planned to destroy your civilization but have some concern that I might be making a mistake. I want you to convince me that you don’t deserve destruction.”

“Who are you!?”

“Someone that believes that destroying a planet is not something that is acceptable. I want you to persuade me that it is. Failing that, I will destroy your species.”

• • •

The Leader of the Planet looked to his left and his Military Leader shook his head, “We aren’t able to detect where that communication is originating!”

The Leader turned and said, “Why do you think it is your province to do this?”

“Because I can. You’ve invaded and conquered eleven planets and have made the populations little more than slaves. I don’t find that acceptable. You’ve also threatened to destroy other civilizations if they don’t surrender to your forces. At first glance, you don’t appear to have any redeeming qualities. I think that removing you from creation without an opportunity to explain yourselves might not be the proper thing to do. So explain your actions and understand that your lives hang in the balance of what you say.”

“This is not reasonable. We’re no danger to you. Why are you here doing this?”

“As I mentioned earlier, because I can. It’s just like you can force other civilizations to your will because you can. There’s no real difference and you’re wasting time arguing about it.”

“Do you honestly think you can destroy my civilization?”

“You’re going to find out shortly if you don’t start explaining your actions. I will destroy all your warships and blast your defense installations on the surface and allow the civilizations you recently threatened to come and do what they want with the surviving population. Incidentally, they’re really looking forward to dropping on your planet.”

“HOW CAN YOU ASSIST THEM!? THEY’VE CONQUERED MORE PLANETS THAN WE HAVE!”

“That’s why I’m here. In my way of seeing this situation, you are the bigger evil because of your ability to destroy a planet along with all the beings on it.”

“Have you examined the planets they’ve conquered and compared them to the ones we’ve conquered?”

“No, I have not.”

“We don’t kill the populations on the planets we conquer like they do.”

Gabe’s eyes narrowed and he looked at Gabby, who was shocked by the pronouncement. “Why have you conquered those worlds?”

“They would have eventually destroyed their planets by nuclear war. We decided that if we could prevent that, we should.”

“But you’ve enslaved the populations!”

“And they will remain slaves until several generations have passed that no longer remember the wars they fought among themselves. Once that happens, they will be given more responsibility to govern themselves.”

“And if they refuse to disarm?”

“Then they will be choosing to become another conqueror that will ultimately threaten us. The planet we destroyed refused to disarm.”

Gabe nodded and leaned back in his chair, “That’s why you invited the other civilizations to come and witness the destruction.”

“It is.”

“You do rule with a rather heavy hand.”

“Tell me another way and I’ll gladly implement it. Aggressive behaviors don’t die easily.”

Gabby looked at her panel, “Gabe, I’m getting a communication from another location offering to send assistance.”

Gabe nodded, “I’ll be back momentarily.”

“Where are you going?!”

“To take a look at the planet offering to send you assistance.”

The Leader said, “Please do not harm them!”

Gabe looked up, “Poul, do you have the line?”

“I do. Going there now.”

Gabe looked up at the main monitor and saw a green and blue planet below them. “Gabby?”

“This planet is highly civilized and they are not the same species as the one you were just communicating with.”

“They are gathering warships above the planet.”

“Are they the same warships as the ones at the last planet?”

“No.”

“Take us back to the last planet, Poul.”

The planet disappeared and was replaced with the one with giant Grey Warships. “Tell me about that planet?”

“You’ve already gone there!?”

“Yes, tell me about it?”

“It was the first planet we conquered a hundred years ago. They are now our ally and are ruling themselves.”

Gabe nodded and looked at Gabby. She slowly nodded and he said, “You have justified your actions. I will notify the other civilizations that I am not going to assist them and that they should listen to you and consider your threat a real one.”

“I’m angry that you intervened in what’s happening here and killed more than a thousand of my citizens on the ship you destroyed.”

“If you had simply communicated, it wouldn’t have happened. I regret their deaths but you should always take the peaceful route when dealing with an unknown enemy. An unknown enemy will kill you.” There was silence and Gabe said, “Perhaps their deaths will prevent a future occurrence like this. Why didn’t you communicate before the deadline?”

“We found it difficult to believe you could harm us.”

“Then their deaths are on you. I’m leaving your galaxy and I do wish you success in bringing peace.”

“Where are you going?”

“Home.” Gabe looked up, “Poul take us to the gathering of those other civilizations.” In a moment, the giant gathering of warships appeared on the monitor and Gabe said, “The attack on the Grey Warships is off.”

“WHY!?!”

“Because we’ve learned that you kill the resident populations of the planets you conquer. That makes you worse than the ones we were going to attack. We’ve told them about the plans to destroy their species and I must say that they weren’t really happy about that. I would suggest that you listen to their threat and take it seriously.”

“You can’t come here and do this and simply fly away!”

“I simply flew in; I can also simply leave.”

Gabby looked up, “A fleet of the Planet Killer Ships has just arrived.”

Gabe looked at the main monitor and saw the giant ship gathering had broken up as the thousands of warships fled the scene. “Poul, take us home.”

Gabby and Ali stared at Gabe as he sat in silence and stared out of the port viewport. Gabby finally said, “I’m sorry, Admiral. That was my fault.”

Gabe turned and looked at her, “No it wasn’t.”

“I suggested stopping and doing the right thing.”

“That’s why it’s not your fault, Gabby. We are going to have to change our view of just what the right thing really is.”

Gabby looked at Ali and he shrugged. She turned back to Gabe, “I’m not sure I understand.”

“Helping an aggressive civilization gets you what?” Gabby shrugged slightly. “It gets you a stronger aggressive civilization. Look no further than our helping the Darkness. There are enough aggressive civilizations in creation that no matter what you do, you’ll keep bumping up against them. Helping them against each other is a waste of time. They should be left alone to fight each other without our interference.”

“What are you saying?”

“Ali, we had it right in the beginning. We hid from the Traugh and they were eventually destroyed by another civilization. If we had left the Darkness alone, the Builders would have removed them.”

Gabby shook her head, “But there are thousands of civilizations the Builders would have destroyed in Andromeda beyond the Darkness!”

“Or they would have fled and survived somewhere else. There are too many aggressive civilizations to defend against. And look at the Halo Civilizations and the constant war they fight among themselves. Mankind has to fend for itself and let the others survive the best they can.”

“Are you saying we shouldn’t attack aggressive civilizations?”

“No, I’m not, Ali. But the first Death Prophecy tells us to only attack when it is absolutely unavoidable. I really think it tells us to not come into any contact with one unless it’s absolutely unavoidable as well.”

“What about peaceful civilizations that are attacked?”

Gabe looked at Gabby and pursed his lips for a moment. “Gabby, I’ll agree with you if you can give me an example of one peaceful civilization you know about?”