No Technology Is Invincible (The Death Prophecies-Book Four 4) (33 page)

Zeree was stunned. This being had broken the encryption on their private frequency. “If our scans indicated the warships were not a match for ours, we would leave and not bother them.”

“So you attack anyone that might be a threat whether or not they’re a violent species?”

“Well, no.”

“But you have to know that invading another’s territory is an act of war, don’t you?”

“Zeree, I’ll handle this conversation.” Zeree nodded gratefully and sat back. The Pagron said, “You are sounding somewhat hostile.”

“If I do, that’s not my intention.”

“What is your intention?”

“To send you away from my territory with assurances that we are no threat to your civilization. However, it is important that you know that if you come into our space uninvited, we will treat you as a hostile species.”

“We are not a hostile species!”

“Tell that to the twenty civilizations you’ve destroyed over the last ten years.”

“They were hostile species! They represented a threat to us and any other civilization they came into contact with.”

“Does your civilization represent a threat to civilizations you come into contact with?”

“If we determine that the civilization is a hostile one, we would represent a threat.”

“So you’ve appointed yourself the judge and executioner of every civilization you encounter?”

“Someone has to stop them!”

“But you don’t do that.”

The Pagron said with menace in his voice, “Ask those twenty civilizations you mentioned earlier about whether or not we stopped them.”

“Have you been back to the Carnivore’s worlds since you removed them from existence?”

The Pagron was startled by the sudden change of direction, “No, we have not.”

“If you did, you would find that all forty-six worlds have been reconquered by another aggressive civilization and now the populations on all those planets are enslaved by their captors. Please explain to me how you made the situation better other than the planets are now slaves instead of a meal. Four of the other species you eradicated have been replaced by another predator civilization. Please explain to me how you’re doing anything worthwhile other than just flexing your military muscle to make yourselves feel better. Are you going back to remove the new violent civilization in the former Carnivore’s space? Or is it no longer a concern of yours? If it isn’t, you’re only telling yourselves a lie that you’re out in the galaxy doing good. You’re fostering more predators by removing the ones that could keep the new ones in check.”

Zeree interjected, “You sound like you’re angry at us?”

Gabe sat back in his chair and pursed his lips together. After a moment he said, “I guess I’ve released some frustrations and I apologize. It is not my intent to blame you for your actions. You can’t help being who you are any more than those Carnivores can be blamed for eating the inhabitants of those planets. However, there is something you should understand. We have no intention of preventing you from doing whatever you choose. You can attack any civilization you deem appropriate to exterminate and if anyone shows up more advanced than your civilization, we will not bother them either. We will watch what’s happening but will not participate in any of the conflicts we observe. As long as it doesn’t impinge on our civilization, you can live forever and kill whomever you want.”

The Pagron responded, “There could be civilizations in your territory that could be a threat to us.”

“We’ll assure you that no aggressive civilization in our territory will ever leave it.”

“There are aggressive civilizations in your territory.”

“Of course.”

“AND YOU ALLOW THEM TO EXIST?!”

Zeree heard the voice sigh and knew there was something his species had in common with this being.

“Pagron, as your species evolved, did the planet you evolved on have predators?”

“There are predators on every planet.”

“Did you ever attempt to remove all the predators on your planet?”

There was a moment of silence and then the Pagron answered, “Killing all of them would result in the prey they fed on multiplying and causing more damage.”

“Do you not think that the universe is structured just like your planet? There are predators everywhere and they serve a purpose. They not only prey on peaceful civilizations but they also prey on other predators. There is a system of checks and balances that are naturally occurring. You make one predator extinct and four others pop up to take their place, while if left alone, the first predator would have kept in line. We don’t have to worry about the predators in our space, they’ll keep their own numbers in check. You will also find that if you remove all the predators, the peaceful civilizations left behind will multiply and colonize every available planet. I suspect your territory is so large because you’ve run out of planets to colonize.” Zeree winced. This being was dead on with what was happening in the home sphere.

“And if we decide that we need to determine if you’re a threat?”

“Pagron, you need look no further than the carnivores to see what awaits you if you’re foolish enough to make that choice.”

“So you’re saying you are a threat.”

“Pagron, I want you to think about the most vicious predator on your planet. Would you deliberately go into its lair not knowing how many of them are in there? Or would you just recognize that that place is not a good one to visit and stay out of it? I came here to communicate with you and tell you that we have absolutely no interest in what you do. We could care less if you’re more advanced than us or weaker. We don’t view you as a threat and have no desire to have what you possess. But we will remove any one that enters our lair uninvited. Just as you would if someone entered your lair.”

“Are you capable of defeating us?”

“That is irrelevant.”

“What?”

“Just assume we’re like all the other species you’ve encountered and you can handle us easily. We’re simply saying to leave us alone and if we’re no threat, your protocols dictate you go and leave us in peace. If we can defeat you, you can still leave us in peace and the situation is the same.”

“But…”

“You have a great desire to see who has the biggest stick. You’re saying you can’t walk away without finding out. Do you gamble, Pagron?”

“What? Why do you ask that?”

“Because you have fifty-fifty odds on taking this confrontation any further that your species will join the Carnivores in extinction. You know you can’t detect my vessel and you have absolutely no idea how many warships I have facing your scout and the fifty large warships you have waiting two hundred thousand miles behind it. That should give you pause to wonder if you’re willing to gamble the lives of your species against your desire to determine my strength. I think the odds might be slightly more against you because you know absolutely nothing about my capabilities. I, on the other hand, can see your warships and know exactly what I’m up against. Are you willing to take that wager, Pagron? I think I should also tell you that if you decide to attack with the forces you’ve gathered here that you will expose yourself as a hostile species that is a direct threat to my civilization and I will take this war to your territory.”

“You’re threatening me?”

“No, I’m asking if you’re a gambler.”

Zeree heard his Eyes say, “I’m unable to scan any ships behind us. Are some of our warships where that being says they are?”

“How would I know?’

“That being appears to know.”

“Be quiet and listen.”

• • •

“So you’re saying that if one of my ships crosses that line you will attack my civilization?”

“If one of your vessels entered our space without knowing about that line, we’d politely ask it to turn around and leave and that’s what’s happening at this moment. However, you now know about the line and if you send a ship across it that shows intent. Pagron, I’m doing exactly what you would do if you were in my place. Are you starting to feel what all the species you destroyed might have felt when you drew the line in front of them? It’s not a good feeling is it?”

The Pagron stared at the feed being sent to his ship from the scout and couldn’t see anything. He just didn’t know enough about this civilization to make a good decision and making a bad one could…possibly…be fatal. “There’s something you’re not saying.”

Gabe laughed, “Very good, Pagron. My civilization follows some rules that we live by. One of those is that the unknown enemy will kill you. We will do everything in our power to make sure that we remain unknown.”

“And you will also make sure there are no unknown enemies around you.”

“That’s part of the rule.”

“Is my civilization an unknown enemy?”

“I’m sorry, Pagron, but you are not.”

“What’s to prevent me from backing off now and going back to my space and start working on developing the technology to make us more powerful than you?”

“Nothing. But how would you know if you’ve developed the right things to defeat my technology when you know nothing about it. You don’t have a target to shoot for and if you think you’re ready and you’re not…well, I think you know the answer to that.”

The Pagron raised his wings and ruffled his feathers, this being was absolutely right. He would never know if his forces were ready without seeing what they were up against. Was this worth the risk to find out?

“Pagron.”

The Pagron looked at his panel, “Yes.”

“The Council has been listening to this communication between you and the being in that invisible vessel. We have voted to withdraw and not violate their territory.”

“Thank you for removing that decision from me.”

“Withdraw and report back to your duty nest.”

The Pagron heard, “I am impressed in the wisdom that your Council has shown. We will keep our promise and not violate your space.”

“Will you continue to watch our ships?”

“If you choose to continue to act so foolishly, we will observe just to find some humor to entertain us.”

The Pagron closed his eyes and knew that his civilization had made the wrong choice somewhere in the past and now it wasn’t possible to change course. Or was it?

A
li and Gabby looked at John and Tim Hart and felt like life was taking a radical turn. The two young men were going over their control panels and John looked at Ali, “I think I’ve got the sync completed with the tactical system.”

“Put it on the main monitor.” The four looked at the front wall and saw the giant Darkness Gravity Towers feeding dust into the Milky Way’s black hole. “Poul, that’s a much better image than I’m accustomed to seeing.”

“The upgrades are complete and the systems are much better than the previous one.”

Gabby shook her head and sighed, “I hate leaving you, Poul. I’ve loved every minute exploring space with you.”

“I suspect that you now hate leaving Olivia more than me.”

Ali put his arm over Gabby’s shoulder, “Olivia needs us at home more now that she’s four. We’re leaving you in good hands, Poul. Contact us whenever you come home.”

“I will.”

Ali looked at John and Tim, “The Builders have been constructing defenses at an incredible rate but I suspect they won’t stand up to what’s coming.”

“What is coming, Admiral?”

“The Black Fleets requested another Family to come and assist them against the Builders but their increased construction has caused them to call in ten other Black Fleets. They will be arriving in ten more years and that is when the war will kick off.”

Tim’s eyes narrowed, “Have you taken a look at the Black Fleets that are coming?”

Ali nodded, “We have and it is going to be a war like no other. I’m not completely certain whether the Builders will stand their ground and fight or just run. I hate that we’re going to miss it but the two of you are going to have to stay on top of what’s happening and keep the Admiralty up to date on the events leading up to the final confrontation.”

John nodded, “Do you think we’re capable of fighting them in the Builder’s Galaxy?”

Gabby shook her head, “We’re not nearly ready to do that now and even if we were, it would also be a violation of several Death Prophecies.”

“I know, I know. Never confront an enemy until it’s absolutely unavoidable and never do what others can.”

Gabby smiled, “Exactly right. That means they will have to come to us before we act. Besides, I’m looking forward to the Darkness saying hello to the Builders if they choose to run.”

Tim laughed excitedly, “Now that is worth hanging around to see.”

Ali smiled, “Take us home, John. The ship is now yours.”

John was filled with pride in being given command of the Prophet’s Eyes and turned the ship around and flew close by a Darkness Tower. It never sensed it as it passed by at high speed.

THE END

Copyright © 2016 by Saxon Andrew. All rights reserved. Screen Writers Guild no. VQEA3E380432.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author or publisher.

First Electronic Edition: April 2016