Nowhere to Hide (33 page)

The Fleet Controller smiled, “I like the way you think.” He looked at the display and said, “I notice that all of your military leaders are here with you. Do you think the Humans could do just that if they have four to one odds?”

The Pental Military Commander sneered, “They could do it with half of the Invader’s numbers.”

The Hensil Commander shouted, “This is stupid. Why would we just allow them to escape to come back stronger later? This is a great opportunity.”

The other Military Leaders began shouting their agreements and their leaders were amazed by their anger. Finally, the Negotiator turned off the communication devices. “You will vote now. Yes if you agree with the Human’s plan to trap the Invader’s ships or no if you disagree.” The Negotiator waited for the votes to start and no one cast a vote. He looked at the display and said, “VOTE NOW!”

The Pental King pressed his request button. The Negotiator still saw no votes being cast and said, “The Pental King will be given the last word on this issue.”

Dee looked up at the display and saw the Pental King staring at her. “Do you really think you can prevent any of our planets from being destroyed?”

“No; some might die.”

“How many?”

“Only those that are still being attacked after all our ships are destroyed; that’s the only way it would happen.”

The Pental King started slowly nodding his head, “Your bravery shames me. I vote yes.”

The Negotiator’s panel lit up with the votes all rushing in at once. He watched it and said, “The plan has been approved. I will ask that the Humans notify all our civilizations on what their role will be during the coming invasion.”

Drey looked up at the display and said, “You will be given your assignments by our computers as soon as we trap the Invaders.”

Dee said, “There is a real possibility that none of your planets will be attacked.” The leaders stared at her. “Once the Invaders see they’re trapped in your systems, I suspect most of them will attempt to escape. If they don’t, I suspect they will once we start destroying their fleets.”

The leaders saw the wisdom of her words and began cheering her and Drey.

***

Ian smiled, “I knew you could do it, Drey.”

“Trust me on this one, Ian, it wasn’t me.”

“Really?”

“Really; it was Dee and Andi that won the field. If not for both of them being there, they would not have agreed.”

“I wondered why Dee would allow Andi to go.” Drey’s eyes narrowed and he stared at Ian. “Hey, I know Violet wouldn’t have allowed Junior to go.”

Drey nodded and Ian disappeared from his wrist unit. He turned to Dee and she sighed, “I sensed that Andi had to be there.”

“You did?” Dee nodded. Drey’s frown turned to a smirk and then to a small smile, “I guess no one can really resist either of you.”

Dee smiled, “I’m just glad you can’t.”

Drey saw the new Union’s Capital planet appear below Doc as they emerged into normal space, “Moe, do you have what you need to make this work?”

“Pretty much; we still have about four or five weeks before they arrive. That should give us time to get things ready for their reception.”

“Us?”

“The Hub is taking part in the festivities and M87 has a new computer online that can help out.”

Drey felt fear touch his heart, “How good is that computer, Moe?”

“It’s really a leap beyond what they’ve had but it’s still is a long way from matching either of us.”

“Keep me informed about its development.”

“I will. However, I think you and Dee have won them over. The fact that you allowed them to decide has gone a long way to cement their trust of us.”

“Thanks, Moe.”

Drey looked at Dee and she frowned, “I still sense the attack happening. I think we can eliminate M87 as the source at this point.”

“Then where is it coming from?”

“I honestly don’t know. Perhaps it will declare itself during the next invasion.”

“I have to leave in a few days to get the fleets organized.”

“Then let’s make the best of what time we have.” Andi laughed and cooed at Drey. He took her from Dee and held her over his head as she laughed.

“G
randfather, the last coordinates will go out tomorrow.”

“How much time will those last ships need to prepare?”

“No more than ten hours. They’ll receive verification from the ships given the same coordinate and they’ll set up their command structure for the attack. They should be ready to leave after that is done.”

“Make sure they know to surround their transports and provide covering fire on the way to the planets.”

“Every Family has verified receipt of those instructions.”

“It won’t do them any good to arrive and have no way to lift the inhabitants off the surface.”

“They understand, Grandfather.”

“How many ships are being sent to each planet?”

“About thirty five hundred; your fleet will have twenty thousand as befits someone of your station.”

“Make sure we’re defended.”

“Our best ships are in your fleet.”

“What’s our target?”

“Some species called the Gongril according to the last data received from the probes before they were destroyed. Their fleets are small and lack advanced technology.”

“Good. Inform me two hours before we jump.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

***

Moe activated his communication system and contacted the Negotiator, “Please notify all the planets in your galaxy that we are starting the initial disruption. Jump drives will not work inside the inner planets in their systems. We will initiate the second disruption the moment the Invaders jump in. We have determined they will be coming within the next seven days.”

“The message has been sent. Please allow three hours for any ships that must leave to have time to make their departure.”

“We will commence the operation three hours from this moment.” Moe moved to another channel, “Notify your units that initial disruption will begin exactly two hours fifty nine minutes and forty seconds from…..now.” The Hub Computer sent an acknowledgment of the directions. “Ian, disruption will commence in about three hours.”

“When will they arrive?”

“I’m not certain but the probes detect massive movement among the four fleets. It appears that ships assigned the same location are moving closer to each other. That would indicate they’ll be coming quickly.”

“Do you have a good guess?”

“You know I hate guessing about anything.”

“Humor me and make one.”

“Earliest would be in ten hours; latest would be a week.”

“Moe!”

“Ok, ok; they’ll be here within twenty four hours after the initial disruption is done.”

“You cut it pretty close.”

“Not intentionally; they surprised me.”

“Get our ships moving.”

“They’re already jumping to their assigned locations.”

***

“Drey.”

“Yes, Dear.”

“Where are you going to send your ships that will rest during the first day?”

“I have several locations picked out; why do you ask?”

“Could you make one of them the planet where that Lizard is located?”

“Do you sense something?”

“No, I don’t. It’s just…I know his ships are not really all that advanced and I’m reasonably certain the Invaders know that particular piece of information. I don’t want anything to happen to him or his planet.”

Drey smiled at his wife, “I’ll change our rendezvous point to his planet. After their initial attack, half of my ships will go there for forced rest and relaxation.”

“I expect that won’t be easy initially.”

“No, but after some time has passed, they’ll appreciate it.”

“What planets will be defended first?”

Drey looked at his panel, “All the major players here. We want their ships freed up to participate in the defense of other civilizations.”

“Thanks, darling. I do appreciate it.”

“No problem. I’ll see you when I can.”

“We already miss you.”

***

It was fifteen minutes before the four giant Invader fleets jumped. The Grandfather looked at his daughter and said, “Connect me with all of our ships and send this to their navigators.”

She looked up at him and stared to say something but saw his expression and carried out his orders. He lifted his communicator and said, “Every ship’s Father will follow the orders I am issuing you. You will put the coordinates I’ve sent you into your drive units and jump to them when the countdown reaches zero. When you break into normal space you will remain where you are and I will address the family at that time. Until that happens, every ship in our Family is now under strict communications silence and anyone that violates it will be shot on the spot. Fathers, please draw your weapons and stand behind your communications relatives now.”

The Grandfather saw his son go and stand behind his sister with a drawn blaster. She looked up at him with shock on her face and the Grandfather smiled, “No exceptions, Daughter.” He looked up at the clock and watched it move slowly down toward zero.

***

The Thetas all waited for the arrival of the Invader fleets to disrupt the remaining space in the planets’ systems. Once that was done they would jump to their assigned units to start the defense of M87.

***

Chip activated his fleet frequency, “Alright, you understand your assignments. Your fleets have been divided into four independent squadrons. All sixteen of you will go to a system and attack the Invader ships in it. Once they have been removed, the even numbered squadrons will continue attacking the systems you’ve been assigned for the next twenty four hours. The odd numbered squadrons will report to their rendezvous location to rest for the attacks tomorrow. The squadrons fighting today will then report for rest. That is going to be the order of the day for the foreseeable future; report to your squadrons as soon as you complete the second disruption.”

Chip switched frequencies and looked at Lilly on his display, “Be careful; I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Lilly smiled, “We’ll do our job, Sir.”

“I know you will.” The screen went dark and Chip wanted so much to go with Lilly but knew his duty was to coordinate all the squadron’s assignments. Please stay safe, my Love, he thought. He looked at his panel and saw the seven ships assigned to the new capital of the Green Civilization. His duty was to disrupt space around it and he wanted to get it done quickly so he could get involved in the fighting. He smiled; he suspected every pilot in his fleets felt the same way.

***

The Senior Father looked at the Senior Grandfather and nodded. The Grandfather smiled and said, “Prepare to jump to your target in five, four, three, two, one, and JUMP!” Billions of giant ships disappeared from the four galaxies.

***

They reappeared in M87 and Moe said in a steady tone, “Initiate second disruptions.”

***

Chip looked at his display and didn’t see any Invader ships. He hit his communication panel, “All ships in the Green and Grey Civilizations, report.”

“Sir, no Invader ship has appeared.”

The reports came rolling in and Chip looked up and yelled, “MOE, WHAT’S GOING ON?”

“It appears one of their fleets did not come here.”

“Where did it go?”

“I have no idea.” Moe scrambled trying to make sense of his sensor reports when he heard from one of the probes left behind in one of the Invader galaxies, “The fleet from this galaxy will not be participating in the invasion. They have joined us and have sworn to follow our new principles.”

“Why are you just now informing us!?!”

“We didn’t know if they were going to do it until the last moment.”

“Well, thanks for clearing this up.”

***

“THEY DID WHAT?”

“I just found out, Ian. It appears only three Invader fleets arrived and the ships assigned to the major civilizations in M87 are the ones that didn’t come.”

“Well get them reassigned.”

“It’s going to take some time.”

“I thought nothing was as fast as you?”

“Hey, I have more than twenty four million of our ships and a half a billion of theirs to reroute. Give a machine a break.”

Ian burst out laughing, “This is a good thing. Let’s do something with it.”

“I’m on it, keep your shirt on.”

***

Chip saw the information come in on his panel and hit the fleet frequency, “All ships in the Green and Grey Civilizations, report to your squadrons immediately.”

The Fleet Controller appeared on his display, “What’s going on?”

“One of their fleets bailed out of the invasion. It appears it was the one assigned to attack here. Our main computers are assigning your ships as we speak.”

The Controller looked shocked for a moment, “Are you sure about this?”

“My computer is and I’ve never known it to be wrong. Your planets are safe.”

The Fleet Controller smiled, “The Sovereign and Gedna will like hearing this. We’ll see you when this is over.”

Chip’s display went dark and he went FTL at an incredible speed to the rendezvous coordinate and saw twenty thousand Invader Battleships in the system, “Moe, do you see this?”

“I’m sending your squadrons that have been scheduled to rest today for you to use to attack that fleet. They’ll start arriving as soon as they complete their initial assignments.”

Chip recalled all the ships assigned to the major civilizations to the rendezvous location and they began appearing by the hundreds as they flew in at FTL speeds that were incredible. He couldn’t take his eyes off the main display showing the giant invader fleet located close to the orbit of the sixth planet. It wasn’t moving. He was pretty certain that wouldn’t continue much longer.

***

The Senior Grandfather looked at the main display and turned quickly to the Senior Father, “Why are we out so far from our target planet?”

“Grandfather, it appears subspace has been disrupted by some kind of energy. This is as close as we can go on our jump drive.”

“How long will it take us to arrive at the planet?”

The Senior Father looked at his panel and the Senior Grandfather saw the answer was not going to be a good one. “A year.”