Probe Predators (28 page)

Drey stared at Dee and said with a voice filled with venom, “There’s one difference.”

“What is that?”

“They won’t have planets to go back to.”

Dee and Angela looked at Drey and Dee said, “I didn’t take that into consideration.”

Drey looked at Angela, “We’re going to launch probes and try to find the planet where their government is located. That is the one we’ll hit with everything we have. Where would the Union be without Euclid? Cut off the head and the body dies.”

“There will be a massive loss of life.”

“There’s going to be massive death whatever path we choose.”

Dee looked at the Queen, “Your Majesty?”

Angela shrugged, “Moe, can we find it?”

“If they’re communicating, we’ll find it.”

Angela looked at Drey, “Launch the probes.”

• • •

Jinx entered the chamber and said, “I think we’ve found their ruler.”

The four looked at each other and Angela said, “How did you manage to do that?”

“The Probe we left in the system we destroyed picked up a message for the Commander of the Fleet sent to support the local forces has been ordered to report to the Ruler for discipline.” The probe detected the tracker that was attached to the ship that jumped away. We know that trackers marker. When it reports back, we’ll have our location.”

Drey looked at Jinx and smiled, “That is great news; however, I want a probe launched to every coordinate we’ve collected.”

Jinx nodded and left the room. He paused when he heard Drey say, “This is where the Zombies will get their wish.” He continued out of the Queen’s throne room and knew trouble was just over the horizon. He was almost paralyzed with conflicting emotions. He had to find Katy. But first, the probes.

T
he First Leg was back in the Major Claw’s domain and cursed his bad luck. Only an attack on a Pod would cause a large enough emergency to cause of him to be drafted back from his Royal duties. The destruction of the Pod left him no choice but to go. The Pod Masters were extremely nervous and the Major Claw knew his leadership was in jeopardy. This was not going to be easy to crawl out of…alive. He entered the Major Claw’s chamber and was surprised to find him remarkably calm.

“It appears you were right in your assessment that we should have gone and attacked that galaxy.”

“It’s only seen as good in hindsight. Either decision was a good one.”

“You can stop playing word games with me. I’m not going to kill you; you’ve shown yourself rather astute at seeing things clearly. Unfortunately, I need you to help me develop a plan to protect our Pods against this new threat.”

“It will most likely result in the Family not coming.”

“There are some things that are more important than my addiction. What do you think we should do?”

“We should launch a major attack against that galaxy as quickly as possible.”

“I’m forced to agree with you; however, how do we prevent the further destruction of our planets?”

“We’ll have to leave enough ships at our Pods to hold off an attack until we can eliminate the ships in their galaxy.”

“I agree with you.”

“You should also not bring any of the ships that participated in the attack back to any of our Pods.”

The Major Claw looked nervous, “Why?”

“They had to have some way to find the Pod they attacked. If you remember, the ship that was damaged was taken to that planet to be repaired.”

“I’m afraid it’s too late; most of them have been sent to participate in the Pod’s defense fleets.”

The First Leg hesitated but had to know, “Please tell me that none of them came here.”

“The Admiral that lost half his fleet was brought here and executed. Do you seriously think they can follow our ships?”

The First Leg was thinking furiously. He finally allowed his ambition to consume him, “Probably not. I just wanted to look at all the possibilities. If you like, I will stay here and you can lead out forces against them.”

The Major Claw was in turmoil. If the First Leg really thought they could follow his ships, he would never volunteer to stay. If he allowed the First Leg to stay, he could come back to him assuming power in his absence. “No, I’ve called you in to lead our forces.”

The First Leg managed to show disappointment; it wasn’t easy to make it look real. “Where are the Fleets being gathered?”

“A site hasn’t been chosen.”

“Where are the conquerors?”

“They’re scattered in ten different galaxies.”

“We need to bring them in to the storage Pods and have them rearmed. That would be a good place to send the surplus of our inventory to meet them and get them worked into the Conqueror’s fleets.”

“How many ships should we use to defend the Pods?”

The First Leg appeared to be thinking but already knew what he was going to suggest. After a long moment he looked at the Major Claw, “I think two hundred thousand at all Pods but this one.” The Major Claw lowered three of his eyes and the First Leg said, “A full fleet should be here to protect this most important Pod.”

“Can we spare that many ships?”

“We’ll have to make do with what’s left. We can’t risk our governing Pod.”

The Major Claw slowly nodded and said, “Go and get our fleets organized. I want regular updates on what’s going on.”

The First Leg used one last ploy and prayed the Major Claw wouldn’t accept it, “I really think you are a superior leader than me; are you sure you don’t want to lead our forces?”

The Major Claw stared at the First Leg as he prayed he hadn’t made a terrible mistake. “No, I think I need to be here to reassure our Pods.”

Showing no emotion was one of the most difficult things the First Leg had ever done but he managed to pull it off. “I will leave immediately.”

The Major Claw stared at the First Leg as he left and saw he wasn’t happy about the decision. Good, maybe he’ll get himself killed.

The First Leg waited until he was on board his ship before he did a dance.

• • •

Jinx arrived at the Zombie Fleet Headquarters and asked to be taken to Admiral Kemper. A Zombie Captain saluted and escorted him to the Fleet’s planning room. The Captain looked in the door and said, “Admiral Tollervar wishes to speak with the Admiral.”

Katy looked up from the huge table with the disposition of the Thresher Warships around their main planet and said, “Send him in.”

Jinx walked in and looked at Jim and Gil, “I need to speak with you in private.” Katy looked at Jim and Gill and nodded.

They walked out the door but Jim stopped at the threshold and left the door open a crack. Gill looked at him and Jim said, “I need to make sure she’s ok.” Gil nodded and moved to the other side of the door and listened in as well.

“What can I do for you, Admiral?”

“I have to know why you went out with Edward.” Katy’s face turned red and she looked down at the floor. “Why did you betray my feelings?”

Katy slowly shook her head and forced herself to look at him, “I’ve dreaded this day from the time it happened. I was stupid and frightened, Jinx. I saw we were getting really close and the closer we got, the more I was afraid. I went to break away from what we were becoming. I just couldn’t bear the idea that you would one day really get to know me and walk out.”

“Like your father.”

Katy’s eyes lowered and she started crying, “I begged him not to go. I pleaded for him to stay and my cries fell on deaf ears. I know he loved me but he still walked out. I just couldn’t bear facing that again. I felt you would one day leave me.”

“I’m not your father, Katy!”

Katy blew out a breath, “I know that now. I didn’t know how much I loved you until after I found out I lost you.”

“You didn’t lose me; you pushed me away!”

Katy shook her head, “I know; I know. It finally dawned on me that I did to you what my father did to me. Only…I did it in such a way as to ensure you would never come back.”

“I talked to Edward.”

Katy looked up, “Why?”

“I had to know if you cared for him.”

“And?”

“He said you were pretty much immune to this tactics.”

“I had a good time laughing the first night but he was right; he didn’t really touch my heart. I think I went the second time to protect myself from falling in love with you. I didn’t realize that I was too late. It was after you left that I found how much I really cared; I lost the will to live after that.”

Jim looked at Gil and saw him shaking his head.

“Katy, I’ve never stopped loving you. I need you to come back to me.”

Katy’s eyes moistened again and she closed her eyes and shook her head, “I can’t.”

“Why!?!”

“I followed your advice.”

“What advice?”

“You told me to love my warriors’ and to make a difference. I do love them and I can’t walk out on them. I’ve given my life to them and I will go with them when we attack the Thresher’s home world. I can’t break another oath I’ve made to the ones I love.” Katy opened her eyes and looked at Jinx, “I just can’t do that.”

Jinx stared at Katy and went forward and hugged her tightly. He took a deep breath and stepped back, “I understand. I shouldn’t have waited to talk with you. This is my fault as much as yours.” Jinx turned and walked out of the planning room. Katy went to a chair and put her head in her hands and wept.

Jim looked at Gil, “He’s coming!” They quickly moved away from the door and Jinx walked out without looking at them. Both of them saw his anguish. They peeked in the door again and saw Katy weeping. Jim closed the door and said, “We’ll wait for her to call us in.”

• • •

Drey and Kragon were going over the data on Thresher’s home world when they heard, “Drey, one of our probes have found a massive gathering of Thresher Warships at one of the planets the trackers found.”

“How massive?”

“More than half a billion ships are starting to form up. More are arriving every moment.”

“What are they doing at that planet?”

“It appears that planet is a weapons center. They are rearming the ships that are arriving.”

Drey looked at Kragon, “We have to do something.”

Jinx walked over from his office and looked at the image, “We can take that planet out.”

Drey looked at Jinx, “Say what?”

“They have so many shuttles leaving the planet that the defense screen around it has thousands of clear paths to the planet. Those shuttles don’t have force fields and a Sovereign Battleship can blow through one of those channels and launch a heavy penetrator barrage at the planet.”

“The ships in orbit would be on you before you could get in.”

“If I have my Secondary fleets jump in and launch a barrage at the fleets gathering outside the planet opposite the side of the planet where the battleship is going in…”

“The ships on that side of the planet will orient toward the site of the attack.”

Jinx looked at Drey and nodded, “The Battleship will be coming in at super FTL speed and drop into normal space long enough to launch three heavy penetrators. The first one will clear the shuttles out of the way for the second two to follow it in.”

Kragon shook his head, “That means the battleship will have to slow to about one third light speed to make the launches.” Jinx nodded. Kragon looked at Drey, “I wouldn’t want to be on that battleship.”

“I’ll be commanding the battleship, Sir.”

Drey looked at Jinx, “Are you crazy?”

“Sir, we have to slow that fleet down in order to attack the Home World before they launch an attack M87. I can make this happen.”

Drey stared at Jinx and said, “Something’s happened.”

“Sir, this has to be done. Whoever commands the battleship needs to be a volunteer; ordering someone in isn’t the right thing to do.”

“We could use a Zombie.”

“Sir, you’re going to need every one of them at the Home World. You don’t need to distract them from their mission by sending one of them on this assignment. You know they would not pay attention to their mission but would be distracted by watching their comrade do this.”

Drey looked at Kragon, “There wouldn’t need to be much planning. The Second Fleets jump in, fires a barrage, jumps away, and the battleship comes in simultaneously with the barrage.”

Kragon looked at Jinx, “You shouldn’t do this.”

“Sir, this will be just as important as attacking the Home World. I really think I can make this happen. You need me to do it.”

Drey shook his head, “Get your fleets moving.”

Jinx went to attention and saluted. Drey returned it and Jinx walked out of the room. Drey stared at the door Jinx had exited and contacted Dee, “Guess what just happened?”

“What?”

Drey told her.

• • •

Jinx arrived in M87 and was contacted immediately by the Sovereign, “I understand you’re going on a suicide mission to delay a Thresher attack against us.”

“It’s not a suicide mission, Your Majesty.”

“If the plans I’ve just seen are accurate, it is.”

“That’s why I’m commanding the ship going in; if there’s a way out, I’ll find it.”

The Sovereign stared at Jinx and said, “What is your name?”

“James Tollervar.”

“Your name will be remembered by us when this is over. You have shown that your species is one that we can trust and we will never forget your willing sacrifice.” The Sovereign looked away from his panel, “I am sending you my personal ship to use in this mission. You’ll have the best we have to assist you. I’ll have the ship sent to you as soon as the heavy penetrators are loaded.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you, James Tollervar.”

• • •

Jinx waited above the Green Civilization’s Capital Planet and thought about the mission. He also thought about Katy and began to understand how she felt. She was right; losing the one you love didn’t leave much inside. The ship arrived and he flew his needle into the landing bay and went to the bridge. He had Moe send the latest feed from the Weapons Planet and looked for the best path to go in. In forty five minutes he found the one he was going to use. The Captain ordered Battle Stations and the giant green ship jumped away and moved to a position to start its run toward the planet. Moe worked out the timing and he contacted Mac, “Mac, you need to make your jump exactly five minutes from my mark; be ready to lock it in.”