“I used to look up at the sky with my wife. That was a very happy time for me.”
Niles looked at Toland, “I didn’t know you had a wife?”
Toland sighed and shook his head, “She was killed for treason when my son turned her in for complaining about the King’s slaves.”
Niles sat up straight and said, “Are you serious?”
Toland nodded.
“I hate to be nosey but why did you serve in the Navy if the King did that?”
“My son was five at the time and he told his teacher what she said. He was awarded a medal and named a hero of the state.”
“Why didn’t they come after you?”
“I was away in flight training. My next door neighbor commed me and told me what happened. I was devastated but knew I’d be killed if I didn’t take the King’s side. I told the security agents when they came that it served her right. I guess they bought it. I joined the navy to get away from my son.”
“Are you worried about what’s going to happen to your son now that you’ve deserted?”
Toland looked at Niles and said, “I hope they kill him slowly. He is no son of mine.”
Niles leaned back and looked up at the stars and slowly shook his head at all the evil that was in the Province.
“Niles.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m going to ask to go with them to New Ulmerton to take the database.”
“Why?”
“I hear the Princess is going to help them. I don’t want her to be hurt. I also have a debt to pay for those worlds I helped conquer.”
Niles looked at Toland and said, “I’m no longer your captain but I do consider myself your friend. I’ll go with you. I also have a debt to pay.”
Toland smiled, “You will always be my Captain. You’re the one that remembered me when we were going to be destroyed. You also never turned me in when you knew I hated the King. Thank you, Captain. I owe you my life many times over.”
“Let’s go see if the Emperor will allow us to go.”
Scotty sat at the fire with the two former New Ulmerton sailors and said, “You want to go and help steal the military database?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We understand the Princess is going and we don’t want to see her harmed. We also want to balance the scales on what we’ve done. We have both been in the building and can help the ones going to take it.”
“Why are you worried about the Princess? She’s the King’s daughter.”
“Yes but everyone knows she has a good heart.”
“They do?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you can’t go.”
“You don’t trust us?”
Scotty looked across the fire and said, “If I had to say, I’d say they are trustworthy. What do you say?”
Niles and Toland looked where he was looking and heard, “You’d be right. They can be trusted.”
“Who said that?”
“Vring”
Suddenly Niles and Toland saw a gigantic Zord sitting across the fire from them.
“They have been forced to serve in the King’s Navy. It was serve or die. They’ve never agreed with the King’s actions.”
Scotty looked at Niles and Toland and said, “I have other plans for the two of you.”
Niles tore his gaze from the Zord, “What plans?”
“I have some old Ultraships and I need some commanding officers. Are you interested?”
Niles started smiling and Toland was nodding, “Absolutely, Your Majesty.”
“Good. I’ll send you to Criston tomorrow so you can select your crews. I’m sending one of the Zord with you to make sure the ones you select can be trusted. We need to get those ships functional.”
Niles shook his head and looked over at Toland, “Now we can make a difference.”
Scotty smiled and knew that the Empire’s chances of survival were improving. Those ships could jump into a planet without teleportation boards.
Greyson had finished the download a week ago and had cross referenced it to the history the Province had given him. He didn’t want to believe the download but there was just too much evidence to show it was more accurate. If the Cainth were forced to join the Humans, why were they devoted to them? Same for the Glod? Those two were the strongest allies of the Realm. If they were forced to join against their will, well, that just couldn’t have possibly happened. And the Algeans became the closest allies of the Realm. Everyone knew it. That was why their galaxy was also being attacked along with Ross. Why would they have become such close allies if they were conquered and vanquished? No, the Dukes had manipulated history to make the Realm look like tyrants. If they weren’t, why didn’t they attack the Provinces in self-defense instead of leaving? He had one last question before he would know the truth. He entered a com code, “I’ve finished your history. Do you have a moment to discuss it?”
“Where are you?”
“Right where you left me.” Greyson waited and in two minutes, three ships came out of silver fields. So they have more than one ship that could teleport. He knew he was outgunned, but he really didn’t care. He didn’t raise his screen.
“We’re here. What’s on your mind?”
“First things first. My name is Greyson and I’m a Searcher from Duke Jongo’s Fleet. I was originally a part of his fleet at Ulmerton until the planet was destroyed. His son assumed the throne and sent me, along with most of his other Searchers, to attack and destroy Ross. I think you know the rest.”
“We do.”
“I have one last question. Did the Stars Realm destroy Ulmerton?”
“My name is BC and I was attacking Keepers while you were assembling to attack the Royal Family. I could beat around the bush and tell you that it was the Keepers that destroyed Ulmerton and that would be true. But it wouldn’t be the whole truth. Yes, the Stars Realm caused the destruction of Ulmerton.”
“What about Nove Vista?”
“Your former Duke, Ales Jongo, destroyed the buoy protecting it allowing the Keepers to destroy the planet. He also destroyed the buoy at El Prado but the Realm’s ships arrived in time to prevent its destruction. We have a recording of him firing a beam at the buoy.”
“Why did you destroy Ulmerton?”
“The Duke ordered Ales Jongo to sneak in to the Ross system and destroy the planet. We have recordings of him sneaking away when he discovered the Royal Family was not there.”
“Why did the Realm leave?”
Anglo said, “To give you what you wanted.” Greyson remained silent and Anglo continued, “The Provinces painted the Stars Realm as tyrants that controlled them. They wanted to be free from the Realm to attack other members. The Realm knew that to continue to hold the Provinces in the Realm against their will violated every principle it was founded on. They left and gave the Provinces their independence.”
“But they destroyed our means of travel.”
“Along with the means to kill each other. It still didn’t stop the civil war but it slowed it down. You tell me, Greyson, what would Ales Jongo have done if he had all of those Searchers under his command? What is the current Jongo doing with his Searchers? You should know after the destruction of Haldale. You know there was peace under the Stars Realm; members were not allowed to attack other members. What about now under the Duke’s descendants? Do you think the planets forced to join your province want to be a part of Jongo’s Kingdom?”
Jessica said, “What are you thinking?”
Greyson said, “My oath is void. It was made under the pretense of a lie. I am going to go back and kill that
