Planet Predators (24 page)

The First looked at the others and a view on the table appeared showing the ships that had come and caused massive destruction. They were all violet in color.

Chris said, “We are not your enemy. The Species that attacked us is your real enemy and I believe it will return and do it again starting with my galaxy. However, it is also possible they could start with you since they probably see you as the larger threat now.”

“How could they possibly think that? Your ships are much more powerful than ours.”

“That’s true, but we have only used them three times. You have sent massive fleets against my galaxy and I’m sure they saw that happen.”

“Why haven’t they returned?”

“It is my belief that the huge galaxy, we call it M87, is a very dangerous place to exist. I suspect there is constant warfare and the species can only come during lulls in the wars. They are now four million years more advanced and who know how powerful they have become. The reason they only destroyed the most powerful civilization is they couldn’t afford to have their ships away too long; which means there are other civilizations there that are just as powerful.”

The Leaders looked at each other and the Seventh said, “We need some time to consider this. We will contact you in three days.”

Chris said, “I’ll be waiting for your contact.”

* * *

The Fleet Controller looked at his board and saw the massive destruction done by the attack. He had lost more than ten thousand ships but the Kelleg had lost three times that number. He stared at the display and sent the results to the Central Hive. It would be many cycles before they could return. He knew they would not remove ships from their sphere of influence to continue the attack. It would take a while before they could build new ships to replace those he had destroyed. Perhaps now would be a good time to do some universe cleaning. The Fleet Controller turned his violet colored ship and jumped back to the Hive. It was good to be located out on the edge of the galaxy. The Kelleg were the only ones in the interior that could threaten the hive and any invader would have to go through them first. The only other danger was from other galaxies beyond the edge of the Hive. Those threats could now be dealt with.

Chapter Sixteen

T
he Leaders connected mentally and thought about the conversation. They kept going back to their old patterns and the Seventh finally interrupted their pattern, “This is not something that fits the old patterns.”

The others paused and the First said, “What are you saying?”

“I’ve often wondered where the violet colored ships were when we invaded the closest galaxy. We could never find them and we know they were more powerful than any species we found there. Am I wrong in that view?”

The consensus said, “No, you are right.”

“So if they didn’t come from that galaxy we have to ask, where did they come from? If that being is right about them being attacked first, we have been wasting our efforts invading there. We’ve never discovered a civilization that could come close to standing up to our ships.”

“Until now?”

“Yes, until now. We need to find out where they were during our invasions. However, if this being is telling the truth, they are not our main concern. We are charged with defending the Home and if we weaken our ships attacking them, we fail in our duty.”

“How can we not attack them now?”

“Because there is another species that is more dangerous than they are; there is no way we can take them both on and survive. Do you not see that?”

“Stronger civilizations always attack the weaker. That’s how the universe works.”

“If that is an absolute, why are they talking instead of attacking us?”

“Perhaps we need to ask them.”

The other Leaders turned to the Fifth and he said, “I think we need to look at this as an exception to what we’ve learned and try to make decisions based on the facts we uncover. Are we able to do that?”

The First thought and said, “I don’t know. This is outside of our experience.”

“We need to allow the Seventh to continue our communications.”

The others all leaned forward and the First said, “Are you ready to continue?”

The Seventh stood straight showing his indecision and said, “All of you are much more experienced than me.”

The Second said, “That is why you are the right choice. You are not locked up in a fixed pattern of thought. We cannot say the same about us.”

The Seventh leaned slightly forward indicating his reluctant acceptance and pressed the table.

“Are you ready to continue our conversation?”

* * *

Only one day had passed and Arvolo pressed the board and said, “Stand by for just a moment.” He hit the intercom and yelled, “Admiral Connor, the Blue Giant Leaders are on the com.”

Chris arrived three minutes later just behind Jillian who had outrun him again. Arvolo pointed at the communication panel on the left display and Chris saw the blue light illuminated. He sat down in his command chair, took a deep breath, looked around the bridge, and pressed the send button, “I apologize for the delay. I thought you were not going to communicate until later.”

“We have some questions.”

“What are they?”

“Why have we not discovered you in our invasions? You are obviously the most advanced civilization in your galaxy. How did we miss you?”

“We were still living in caves when you last invaded. We had not even discovered electricity.”

The Leaders all looked at each other and the Seventh saw their doubt. “I don’t think that is possible.”

“Consider this. If you lived in a civilization that had developed space travel around your solar system and a ship was discovered that had a star drive and weapons. Would you be able to duplicate it?”

“Probably but not easily.”

“My planet was invaded by an advanced civilization more than five thousand years ago and we were able to take some of their advanced technology. We have developed our ships from that theft and actually improved on it. We have also been able to acquire other technological advances from other civilizations that have been destroyed by the numerous attacks on our galaxy. Less than eight years ago, we did not possess a stardrive.”

The Leaders all looked at each other and wondered if what they heard could possibly be true. They turned to the Seventh and he asked, “Are you asking us to believe that you have developed your ships in less than eight years?”

“I’m not going to be untruthful with you. That’s exactly what happened.”

“Why are you reluctant to be deceptive?”

“Because I hope we can make some agreements you can trust we’ll keep.”

“So making agreements is why you came here to communicate?”

“Exactly so.”

“I don’t feel an agreement is possible.”

“Why not?”

“Because stronger civilizations always destroy weaker ones.”

“We are not here to destroy you.”

“That has us confused. You don’t seem to follow the accepted pattern.”

“Maybe it’s because we don’t accept that pattern. We are not your enemy and actually hope your civilization survives and thrives forever. We want to work with you against a common enemy but even if you do not agree, will not attack you unless you attempt another invasion.”

“That invasion could happen a million years from now.”

“Then we won’t attack you for a million years. We do not view you as a threat. I want you to consider how much more powerful we will be a million years from now. If we’ve come this far in a very short time, what does that say about our future?”

“That is what has us concerned. If we don’t attempt to eliminate you now, we may not be able to ever do it.”

“You’re still locked up in the Predator/Prey pattern. It’s a shame you are so constricted.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because you can never be trusted to keep an agreement; you are forced to be deceptive to ultimately attack anyone else. Your agreements would be worthless.”

“Are you not also bound by the same pattern?”

“We have never been attacked and destroyed by another species. Our civilization is too young so we are not suspicious of every other species. I guess you can say that we hope that not every species is a predator. However, I can make an agreement and keep it.”

“I’m not sure that’s true.”

“Well there is something we are going to do whatever you decide.”

“What is that?”

“You now have this frequency to contact us. If you are ever attacked again and you call us, we will come to help you against the attacker.”

The Leaders were struck silent and after a long silence the Seventh said, “Even though we are working to be able to destroy you.”

“Yes, even though.”

“Why?”

“Because you did choose to communicate with us and that gives us hope that you will someday see that we are being honest with you. We are not a threat to your galaxy, we are not your enemy, and I dare use the term that perhaps one day we will be your friends.”

The Leaders were totally confused. The Seventh finally asked, “How can we ever trust what you’re saying?”

“Not by words but by deeds. I am going to share something with you about your ships that you need to know. Your battleships will lose more than forty percent of the power in their force fields and beams if they are made to make a long jump or chase an enemy for longer than an hour. I would recommend that you trial my observation with one of your ships and you will discover that I’m being honest. If you are going to build better ships you will have to remove that weakness.”

“Why are you telling us this?”

“We are going to have to face another invasion from that giant galaxy in our future and if we can’t defeat them, we hope you will be able to do it. They are the real danger to us all and I hope you can understand that, if nothing else.” Chris looked at Jillian and she nodded. “Thank you for communicating with us and we do wish you success and survival. We are going back to our galaxy and if you need to talk with us in the future you have the frequency to contact us.” Chris terminated the call.

* * *

The Leaders stood and thought about what they had just heard. The Seventh said, “See if what he told us is true.”

The First contacted the Military and ordered the trial. One ship jumped out of the galaxy and waited while the second went to high speed and flew through green space for an hour. It emerged and fired at the waiting ship.

The Leaders waited and opened the channel when the first ship reported in. “What did you discover?”

“The beams are reduced to fifty percent power for ten seconds after entry into normal space.”

The Leaders all looked at each other and the Seventh said, “Those ships didn’t have to run from our fleet. They could have destroyed more than sixty percent of them when they emerged. The other ships would have been easily destroyed afterwards.”

“Why do you think they shared this information with us?”

“I now believe that they were being honest. If they are willing to help a known enemy, then the threat they believe is coming is real to them. If they were being honest in all that they said, we should consider what that would mean to our future defense of the Home.”

The First looked at the others and said, “Seventh, please lead the link.”

The Leaders connected mentally and began looking at all the permutations of the information they had just been given.

* * *

Arvolo looked at Chris and said, “Where to now, Sir?”

Chris sighed and slowly shook his head, “I was hoping they would agree to never invade us again. However, I think we can count on them not coming until they think they have a ship that matches up with our new battleships. That could take a while.” He looked at the display and said, “Put up M87.” The display changed and the people on the bridge saw the giant galaxy in the center of the display. Chris pushed a control and a star on the outer edge was illuminated, “That is where the Moet went to escape the Blue Giants. We are going to have a conversation with them.”

RV looked at the display and smiled. Now this should be an interesting trip. His smile disappeared when Chris said, “Then we are going to find the Violet Ships and see what they’re currently up to.”

RV looked at Chris and saw he was serious. He turned back and said, “New destination. Please recall the Needles and rearm them. Place strikers on the wings of the Defense Needles as well as the Attack Craft. We will jump as soon as all ships are rearmed and ready.”

Chris listened to RV and knew that if the Defense Needles were also being armed with strikers, RV anticipated close in combat with major ship classes.

Jillian stared at Chris and wondered if going to M87 was a good idea. It wasn’t always a good idea to stir up a hornet’s nest. Chris looked at her and saw her concern and he smiled, “We’ll be leading this dance.”

Jillian looked at the galaxy on the display, “Let’s hope they know how to dance. I’m not certain they’ll follow our lead.”

Chris smiled again and said, “Then they are going to get their feet stepped on.”

Jillian smiled and once again admired Chris’s courage. She hoped RV had an escape plan.

* * *

The Fleet Controller arrived at the Central Hive and his communications panel illuminated. He activated it and heard, “An excellent victory for the Hive. You are praised for your tactics.”

“Thank you.”

“We have considered that now would be a good time to clear up some of the issues in the neighboring galaxies.”

“It will take some time to get the Fleet organized and rested from the combat they’ve endured.”

“How long?”

“About a year should allow us time to move the stores to our ships. We have used more than seventy percent in the most recent battle and we will also have to move the food necessary to feed the Fleet on the long voyage from our Hives.”

“Can you make the preparations that fast?”

“I believe so.”

“Then start the preparations.”

The Fleet Controller moved his antennae and ended the contact.

* * *

George and Meisa had listened in on the conversation Chris had with the Blue Giant Leaders and saw that what he had suspected about the predator/prey relationship had been verified by the Giants. He stared at the floor and Meisa asked, “What are you thinking?”