Ashes of the Realm: Book 04 - The Return of the Realm (14 page)

The First Councilor looked at the other three and said, “If it were just those ships; that is exactly what I’d do. However, we still haven’t found the source of that Creation Wave. That has me more concerned than those ships. Your readings indicate we should have no real trouble dealing with them. But if the source joins them, all bets are off.” The First said, “Do any of you see it differently?”

The Third said, “Why haven’t we found their home worlds yet?”

The Distributor said, “I wish I knew. However, if we get all family members to join the search, we should be able to find them.”

The First thought about it and said, “We’ll complete the newest model first. At that time we will search for the home worlds while a representative goes to the Former Family and asks for help locating the source of the wave. That visit will determine our next move.”

The Second asked, “Who are you sending?”

The First looked at the Fourth and said, “The one who missed killing them the first time. You will be the one to go.”

The Former Distributor felt immense fear but lowered his head. The First smiled. He would be watching when the Fourth arrived. He decided that he would be doing that from onboard his ship that was fully stocked with Remid.

• • •

Trey looked at the Defense Facility and saw Weed and Seed meeting with the thousands of Algean Engineers. BC was downloading the latest weapon technologies to them and Weed was organizing it for their minds to absorb. “Cassie, is this a good idea?”

“They have given an oath and I sense they are not only in agreement with it but are bound by it as well. It will be a lot easier to convert the Realm’s Searchers than to build that many ships.”

“Are we going to need that many?”

“According to the scans Admiral Kune made of the four universes, more than twelve million of their ships escaped. I’m also certain that the Demons are building another model that will match up with our ships. We are going to need all the help we can get.”

“The Robbins should be able to handle their fleets.”

“But the Robbins is only one ship, Trey. I also think that if they really attacked us with hundreds of thousands of ships, even the Robbins could fail.”

“We can always teleport away.”

“What if we’re in a situation where we can’t?”

“What are you saying?”

“What if they attack New Hope? Will you run?” Cassie waited and Trey didn’t respond. “What’s bothering you?”

“How are we going to coordinate a fleet of more than seven million ships? It’s got to be impossible to fight them in an organized fashion. We could end up getting in each other’s way.”

“I don’t have an answer for that, yet. Maybe we need to get Tag and Danielle involved in this and see if they can help with that issue.”

“Where are they?”

“They’re at Ross with Valerie and Jake.”

“How long will it take to modify all those ships?”

“I’ve looked at the Algean Galaxy and they have more than four million planets set up for heavy industry. If they just use half of them, they would only have to modify three ships each. The others will build the materials needed to make the modifications. It could be done in less than two months.”

“Really!”

“That’s what Weed told me.”

“What about the other ship?”

“Weed has moved its construction to the Algean Galaxy and six hundred planets are going to start construction simultaneously with the modification of the Searchers.”

Trey looked around the Defense Facility and said, “Let’s take a trip to Ross and see what’s going on.”

“I notice you’ve been thinking about the Queen stepping down.”

“So have you.”

“I know and I’m not certain about what to do about that.”

“Me either, but that will have to wait until later.”

“I know. Let’s take Greyson. Timmy and Virze should go with us.”

Trey sent the order and teleported to Greyson with Cassie.

• • •

Trey and Cassie arrived at Ross and found Danielle and Valerie in the Map Room staring at the Milky Way on the huge wall. Valerie and Danielle bowed to Trey and he said, “Please rise. What are you doing?”

“We’re discussing how to defend against the Demons.”

“That’s the reason we’ve come. We’re struggling with how to handle the organization of millions of ships. How can that number be used and have them work together?”

Danielle took a deep breath and let it out, “How do you think the Demons will attack?”

“If it’s anything like when they destroyed this universe, they will send their ships out to destroy all the civilizations simultaneously.”

“So they will divide their fleets.”

“If they follow the same strategy; yes.”

Valerie pointed at the wall and said, “We have more than eight million civilized planets in this galaxy. The numbers have grown tremendously over the last six thousand years and I believe that you killed quite a few of their ships in your last conflict.”

“We did, but they represented less than eight percent of their total and we believe they are building a more advanced ship to lead their next attack.”

Danielle said, “I believe that if you look at the attack on this universe, they attacked all the important planets first and then went after the others.”

Trey and Cassie thought a moment as they linked and Cassie said, “I think you’re right. What the psychic vision showed was the end result of their attack. Is that important?”

“I believe it is. There is a new element in this conflict that wasn’t here before.”

“What is that?”

“The Algeans have taken the technology of the Empire and have designed a new ship.”

“Oh?”

“It is going to be stronger than the Empire’s main battleships and also have a stronger force field. They are incorporating those changes into the Searchers that are being modified, but they will still not match up to the new Algean design.”

Trey looked at Cassie and then said, “That makes me nervous, Danielle.”

“I know; it’s still hard to trust them after what happened but you can stop it by simply ordering it. They will follow your orders without equivocation.”

“Tell me what you sense, Danielle.”

“Twig announced to the Algean worlds that they would be allowed to fight in the defense of the new Emperor if they would join the Fleets. Their response was overwhelming. Their shame at those that were killed is enormous and they need to atone for what happened. They realize that all those worlds they originally slaughtered in their galaxy can only be balanced by saving more lives than they took. They are driven to join the coming war.”

Tag walked in and said, “If we had fought them when they were fully developed and not stunted by not having the food they needed, we would have lost. They will be a formidable force to reckon with, Trey.”

“So you think we should allow them to build warships?”

“Absolutely.”

“Why?”

“Because they will become the guardians of this universe if we win this war.”

“And just what will we be doing?”

Danielle said, “We will become Life Warriors and join the Zord in the crusade against evil.”

“The Algeans could do that as well and leave us to defend our universe?”

“Not for very long. Remember they are held captive to the golden soil that feeds them and it is only located in this universe. They are bound to remain here.”

Trey and Cassie understood. Cassie said, “So they will become our defenders.”

“And I suspect they will defend the Empire with a passion you’ll find amazing. They no longer look at their Galaxy as their only home. They will insure the old principles are maintained and followed by all that are here in our universe.”

Tag said, “Which brings up another point, Trey. The Demons will start a real search for our location now. I suspect the planets in the Empire will be found along with the two galaxies here. We will have to divide our forces to defend both of them.”

Timmy and Virze had teleported in and were sitting in chairs watching the proceedings. Timmy said, “That is not good. They can take on the Empire first and have fewer targets to destroy.”

Trey said, “Fewer might be easier to defend.”

Tag said, “Not really. If you had to attack eight million targets instead of sixty six, what would you have to do?”

“I’d have to divide my fleet.”

“And aren’t all the worlds of the Empire located in a very small area? All they’d have to do is get sixty six ships through our defenses and the Empire would be gone.”

Cassie looked at Danielle and said, “You have something in mind. What is it?”

Danielle smiled, “I think we need to make plans for what happens after the war. If we win, there will be a period of adjustment that could be troublesome. I think New Hope should be moved here and placed in orbit around this star with Ross. The other sixty five planets will be scattered around the Milky Way and the Algean Galaxy. They will become the regional embassies of the Empire. The Empire’s fleets will be posted at those worlds and anything that involves the Empire will come through those worlds.”

“So you’re setting up new Provinces?”

“Absolutely not, Trey. Those worlds will be Embassies and will not have a ruler. The Ambassador of each embassy will be appointed by the Emperor and will have a set term of service; the Ambassador must also be a citizen from one of the Empire’s original planets. No one will be allowed to gain power. They will administrate the Empire’s directives and handle the business of the Emperor. They will also set an example of a world that lives by our principles. They will naturally become the richest planets in the Empire.”

Trey stared at Danielle and said, “I don’t know if I’m comfortable with this. This feels so much like what happened in the Realm.”

Cassie looked at Trey and said, “What if we don’t have the Empire located with the planets that make up the bulk of its membership? Ruling from another Universe is not going to be easy.”

Danielle nodded, “The new citizens of the Empire need to be able to see the Royal Family and feel they are a part of something they can be proud of. It will be what keeps us unified.”

Tag said, “How would you want to see it done?”

Trey thought about the suggestion and felt something in his mind. He heard the music from the temple and smiled. He looked at Cassie and she had a strange look on her face, “You hear it, too.”

“Yes, what is that?”

Trey felt his mind clear and he knew that he had been fighting the very things that needed to be done. His hatred of the Realm had made him mistrust everything the old Realm suggested and he discovered at that moment that leading the Empire was not his calling. He was being given the tools for survival and he just refused to see it. He looked at Cassie and she immediately saw the difference in him. “Link with me, Cassie.”

Cassie took his hands and saw it as well, “You were right.”

Tag and Danielle stared at the two and wondered what was happening. Valerie said, “Right about what?”

“All the pieces were in front of us and we just didn’t want to accept them, Valerie. Trey and I have wondered why his grandfather had named a non-psychic to the throne and even he didn’t have a good answer as to why he did. We have been resisting accepting the crown and have put Carter and Jenna in a temporary position to rule the Empire. Both of us knew that we were not ready to rule. Now we know why no one has been made Emperor with the necessary psychic abilities to rule. Danielle, do you see why?”

Danielle remained silent and said nothing. Tag looked at her and said, “What’s going on?”

Trey smiled and looked at Tag, “Do you remember what she did when she was made Queen of the Realm by Tgon-gee?”

“Yes, she resisted and said she wouldn’t do it.”

Danielle let her head fall to her chest and slowly shook it.

Cassie said, “You have no choice again, Your Majesty.”

Trey said, “Creation knows that the Bristone Empire is the lost children of the Stars Realm and it was their task to bring redemption to the ones that lost their way. Creation was willing for our universe to die in order to resurrect the real force that it had made to bring balance. That task has now been completed and it’s time to reunite the family. Creation is now insisting that the one that was born to bring balance back to take their role and make it happen.”

“I can’t do this again.”

“You have no choice, Danielle. It is your destiny and you know it. I know you sense it in the core of your being and denying it will only bring you pain. You are the chosen one.”

Valerie’s brow was furrowed and she said, “What are the two of you talking about?”

Cassie said, “When was the Stars Realm at its strongest? It was when Danielle and Tag led the Realm. All of the Realm’s problems happened when someone else ruled. Tgon-gee got it right twenty thousand years ago; Danielle is the Stars Realm and she will be what unites us. The Bristone Empire will join the Stars Realm and Danielle will be our Queen. She is Creation’s choice.”

Danielle looked up and pleaded, “I am not the one to do this. You and Cassie are both so much stronger than me. You should rule the Empire. I am not deserving of this. I had a huge role in the Realm’s death.”

Trey slowly shook his head, “You said your biggest mistake was assuming that someone with more psychic power would be able to see things you couldn’t. Don’t make that mistake again. Cassie and I have both been over our heads since we found the Realm. You stopped us from using the Robbins against the Demon Fleets because you knew there would be much more harm to our future to do it. You saw the way to bring the Algeans and Spiders back into the fight for life. I have resisted you the entire way and only agreed because I couldn’t see another way. Now I find myself resisting you again and Creation tells me that I’m blind to what must be done. As long as you live, Danielle, the Stars Realm is not dead. Now it’s time you accept your destiny and do what you were born to do.”

Danielle turned and said, “Tag, I can’t do this. I won’t do this.”

Tag moved forward and took Danielle in his arms and said, “Even I can see the truth in what he’s saying. You know I will help you any way I can.”