The Fight for Creation: Book 02 - Scout Warrior (24 page)

“What do you mean?”

“We’ve had to relax the security protocols.”

“Why?”

“Don’t worry about it. We have a transparent field over the castle.”

Sam furrowed his brow and Greg said, “Let’s not keep them waiting.”

Sam went through the portal and looked up to see the sky darkened with millions of vessels floating high above the Castle all the way to the horizon. They were stacked all the way up to the edge of the atmosphere. He walked to the edge of the wall and saw the cloud of ships extended as far as the eye could see and the crowd waiting for his appearance filled every available inch between Castle Gardner and the city beyond. Every street was packed in the city and the roar that exploded from the gathered millions was the loudest ever heard on Ross. The news reporters that were in cranes high above the crowds began sending the event to the rest of the Realm. The cranes lined the edge the huge fields all the way around the castle. Jon looked out at the massive gathering and felt their love. He lowered his head in shame. He had forgotten who he was. Now this reminder brought life back to his eyes. For the first time in such a long time he smiled and raised his arms. The roar of the crowd which couldn’t have possibly grown louder…did. Ross’ love for their Duke brought him peace for the first time since Jixie left.

• • •

“Sam, what are you planning?”

“Dort, Gon, I’m going to another quarter of creation and begin removing the home worlds of the most aggressive species. I’ll call in the Life Warriors if I need them to liberate a planet. I need the two of you to take command of a regiment of our warriors and be on call for when you’re needed. I hope you can be up to speed within six months.”

“Can’t you just allow the Cats to determine our targets?”

“No, Gon; there are just too many of them and we must start hitting them on a wide scale and follow up with our warriors. My task force is going to take out the worlds that direct their military and supply planets. The Cats will help determine which planets we need to invade once the head has been removed. I’ve discussed it with them and they agree that if we take them on one at a time we’ll only fall behind like we did before.” Sam paused, “We need to hit them on a wide front and keep the pressure on. We’ll also be attacking any invasion fleets we encounter.”

Dort shook his head, “How many ships are you taking?”

“Sixty.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“No, Dort. I had the Algeans working on some special attack ships that are different from anything we’ve used before. They’re small like the ancient Searcher Ships the Realm once used, but each one will be more deadly than a fleet of our main battleships.”

“How is that possible?”

“Gon, these ships will be programed to teleport and fire at a speed that is unimaginable. Once the ships are released to attack, they will be next to impossible to hit and their force fields are several orders of magnitude stronger than anything we’ve faced in combat or used in our fleets. A thousand Algeans Attack Ships wouldn’t stand a chance against one of them. The Realm will be converting to these ships over time, but my task force will take the first ones out.”

“Sam, why are you taking them out? We have hundreds of officers that could do it as well as you.” Sam looked at Dort and said nothing. Dort stared at him and shook his head, “I understand. Give ‘em hell.”

“Get your Commands ready. Your transports will be protected by the new ships when you’re ready.”

Gon and Dort looked at each other and Gon said, “It’s just not the same now that you and Robby have left.”

“Robby has his duty to assume the title now that his father is ill. I think Jennifer is pregnant.”

“Really!”

“Yes. They really are wonderful people. I miss them, too.”

“When are you leaving, Sam?”

“The ships will be ready in three weeks. I’ve started selecting the pilots from warriors that hear the music and have no ties to prevent them from long tours of duty. We’ll be gone for a long time.”

Gon said, “We’ll be ready on time. Keep us in the loop, Sam.”

“I will, Gon. Tell Gren and Delah I love them and make sure you and Dort visit your mates and children.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

Sam smiled, “I know.”

Sam disappeared and Gon looked at Dort, “I try not to feel like this, but I’ll never forgive Jixie for leaving without saying goodbye.”

“He’s getting better, Gon. I don’t know what happened, but I can see he’s not as lost.”

“Even so; it just wasn’t right to do that to him.”

Dort nodded.

• • •

“Sam, what do you want?”

“Pride, I’m not telepathic and I’m going to need someone that can help me communicate with any species I encounter in the other quadrant. I was hoping you had a suggestion on how we can do it.”

Pride stared at Sam and thought to him, “Hold on just a moment. Eyes, please come to the clearing.”

A kitten appeared an instant later. Kitten was really not a good description for a Cat that was thirty feet long but compared to a full grown Cat, it was tiny. “Yes, Father?”

“You’ve been harassing me about going out to fight for the Realm. Do you still want to go?”

“Are you serious!?!”

“It appears Duke Robbins needs a communications officer to assist him with his task force and you’ll be small enough to fit in one of the new ships for a couple of years. Do you want to go?”

“YES!”

Sam looked at Pride, “How is he going to operate the controls?”

“Sam, we hear the music as well. All he’ll have to do is just be touching the ship. The two of them will function like one entity. He’ll hold up his end in any combat you encounter.”

“Why did you choose me, Father? There are others with more experience.”

“No one can transmit thoughts between multiple species like you do. You have a talent that is extraordinary. I expect you to do a good job.”

The kitten looked at Sam, “I’ll be the best, Your Highness.”

Sam smiled, “I’m sure you will. Go to the Algeans building our ships and have them modify it to suit your needs.” Sam blinked and the kitten was gone.

Pride smiled, “If you’re waiting on him, you’re losing ground.”

“Pride, we’re going to be gone for a long time. Will he miss anything in his development?”

“He’s ten years from the time when he’ll have to choose a mate. I suspect the females will be falling over themselves to get his attention when he returns. Fighting with you will enhance his image. He’ll learn more on the front lines than he will here.”

“Thank you, Pride.”

“You just stay safe.”

“I’ll do what I can.”

• • •

Sam stood beside a warship and thought it was one of the most beautiful pieces of art he had ever seen. It was only eighty yards long, but the smooth lines from the pointed bow to the engines in the rear were beautiful. The steering thrusters were small circles that were flush with the surface and did not spoil the beauty of the ship’s lines. They were the same color as the hull and could only be seen from a close distance. Sam looked and saw nothing that broke the smooth surface. “Sprigly, where are the weapon ports?”

“Inside the skin of the hull; every inch of this ship could fire a main beam including the bow and the rear stabilizers. Missiles and penetrators are ejected from the skin as well.”

“How is it powered?”

“It absorbed a small star. You’ll never run out of power. The food stores are also stored in the hull and you have enough to last you twenty years.”

“How complicated are the controls?”

“Everything is operated through the steering wheel at your command chair. You can also give commands through a head set you can wear when you’re not in the chair.”

“I imagine you’re looking forward to converting your fleets to this ship.”

Sprigly leaned back showing his disagreement, “We will be using a similar ship to this but only those that can hear the music can fly this ship. We will be forced to use extensive controls to fly it.” Sam stared at Sprigly and he said, “This ship will be just like the psychic ships if we lose those that hear the music. They’ll be useless.”

Sam shook his head, “Then we better use them while we still can.”

“I agree; you need to come aboard and make the connections. The rest of your pilots can start the process after you learn how to fly it.”

Sam and Sprigly went through the main portal and Sprigly said, “What do you want to name it?”

Sam sighed and said, “Jixie’s Ghost.”

“We’ll put it on the hull. I suspect you’re going to love this ship, Your Highness.”

Sam gave a small smile, “I imagine I will.”

• • •

“Sam.”

“Hello, Maranda. What’s up?”

“I understand you’re leaving for an extended time.”

“I am.”

“You will not leave until you come and say goodbye to us and Mica.”

“I’ve scheduled some time to do just that in three days. Does that meet your schedule?”

“It does. Mica would never forgive you if you left without saying goodbye. You know how much he worships you.”

“He’s going to be a fine man, Maranda. You’re doing a great job of teaching him.”

“Thanks, Sam. Call us when you’re on the way.”

“I will. I love you.”

“And we love you as well, Sam.”

“S
ir, I have a situation that requires your attention.”

“What is it, Lt. Arget?”

“I have a rather large invasion fleet holding position above a planet. It appears they are going to invade and take the population prisoner.”

“That sounds pretty straight forward, Lieutenant. You should prevent the invasion.”

“That’s just it, Sir. The planet they’re going to invade attacked them in the past and killed huge numbers of their citizens. They also enslaved the population and after years of struggle the invader was defeated.”

“So they’re coming to exact revenge on the planet that invaded? It sounds like they have the right to do that.”

“Ordinarily, I’d agree, but there’s a slight twist to this. The Dictator that invaded them also had his own population living in little more than slavery. They rose up in rebellion and killed the Dictator and his forces. They have started to rebuild and are making progress toward a democratic government.”

Sam shook his head, “So the planet being invaded killed the one that brutalized the ones attacking them.”

“That’s how I see it. What should I do?”

Sam hated to get involved in squabbles between individual planets. His main focus was on the large aggressive civilizations. He started to tell Arget to leave but couldn’t do it. “I’ll be there momentarily. Eyes, I need you to come with me.”

“Lead the way, Sir.”

Sam arrived at the planet and saw a massive fleet of warships in orbit around the planet. It appeared the planet did not have any ships to defend itself. “Where are the two parties meeting?”

Eyes said, “They’re in the capital building in the city below the largest concentration of ships.”

“Send me what they’re saying.”

Eyes began transferring the conversations from the meeting and Sam listened in. After thirty minutes he said, “Keep me patched in, Eyes. I’m making a trip to the surface.”

“Do you want me to go with you?”

“No, I think I’ll try to do this alone.” Sam left his ship cloaked and teleported down to the conference room with his armor set on camouflage. No one saw him arrive. He heard the Admiral of the invading fleet say, “You will surrender your weapons and have your citizens report to be registered with our occupation forces. If you don’t comply I’ll start hitting your population centers from space.”

“Why are you doing this? You know we were held prisoner by the one that invaded your planet. We didn’t have anything to do with that invasion.”

“This planet killed millions of my people. This planet is going to pay.”

Sam sighed and thought, “Then you should fire your beams into the soil.”

Everyone in the room froze at the thought that entered their minds. The armored warriors raised their weapons and looked around the room. Sam said, “I really don’t want to kill your warriors, but if they don’t put their weapons away, I will.”

A warrior raised his weapon and targeted the First Minister and a white beam blew through his face plate killing him instantly. The Admiral knew that no one on this planet had that kind of laser. “Lower your weapons.”

“I usually don’t repeat myself, but I’ll make an exception this one time. I said to remove their weapons.” Sam came out of camouflage and everyone in the room saw the glowing white armored being. Another warrior tried to fire and was shot through his face plate before he could bring his blaster to bear. “Perhaps I should just remove these warriors and let these people take you hostage, Admiral.”

The Admiral said, “Power off your armor, NOW!”

The twenty warriors deactivated their armor. Sam said, “Go sit next to the display. If any of you attempt to harm anyone in this room, I’ll kill every one of you.”

The warrior’s commander looked at the Admiral and saw him nod.

Sam said, “Such stupidity. Why does it always have to have someone die before anyone listens?” Sam looked at the Admiral and said, “I would think you had achieved your rank by being above average intelligence. Are you?”

“Who are you?”

“Actually, I would normally just allow you to settle your little dispute, but I just couldn’t do it. I had to see if your species is this incredibly dumb.”

“You still haven’t told me who you are?”

“I’ll save that for a moment. First, I want to make sure I understand what you’re doing here. Stop me whenever I say something that’s incorrect.” Scotty held up a finger, “One, this planet was ruled by a Dictator that invaded your planet and killed millions of your people.” Sam paused and looked at the Admiral who remained silent. He held up another finger, “Two, that Dictator also enslaved the people on his planet and killed millions of them to enforce his will on them.” Sam looked at the First Minister who nodded. “Three, you’re going to invade and punish the ones who killed said Dictator for what the Dictator did to you.”