“I am an anomaly. I am the product of two different DNA chains.”
Twig leaned to the left and thought, “Yes, you are. You were not expected to happen so soon.”
Stem and Sprig had stopped looking at the maps and had tuned in to Matt and Twig’s conversation. Sprig come over and placed a branch on Matt’s shoulder, “I think that now is the time you should hear your history.”
Matt looked at the Algean, “Do you know it?”
“I’m the one that’s responsible for it. However, I think we should have others in on our discussion. We will talk about this shortly, but first we have to decide what to do with this new information you’ve given us.”
Matt looked down and then smiled, “You’re right.” He looked up at the two leaders of the Algean race and asked, “How many Algeans are available to help in this project?”
“How many do you think we will need,” Sprig responded?
“At least a billion.”
“How about two billion?”
“The more the better.”
“What do you think we should do, Searcher?”
“We start here at the Realm and assign the closest galaxies to an Algean that will be responsible for getting the coordinates of every planet in their assigned galaxy with intelligent life. They will then transmit the coordinates of one planet to one of our Searchers who will then contact that planet. We will work our way out from this part of our universe and expand our search outward.” Matt paused for a moment and then walked back to the Maps. He closed his eyes and then said, “Stem pull up a galaxy we have not explored, please.”
Stem worked the control board and a new galaxy appeared. Now there were red, blue, and green lights in the galaxy. “What are the green lights, Matt?”
“Those are planets that do not practice war; they are peaceful. Those are the ones that should be given priority in the time that remains. They should match up well with our ideals and they will also be unable to defend themselves. That’s why we need so many Algeans; we have to sift through millions of galaxies to find and contact these civilizations.”
Sprig looked at Matt and then everyone heard his thought, “Your Majesty, I need to use your map room for the foreseeable future. I will be bringing in more than three hundred of my adolescents every hour starting two hours from now.”
“We have been listening to your conversation, Sprig. Of course our home is welcome to you. Let us know if we can assist you in any way.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Sprig then looked at Stem, “I want you to program this board to project one thousand galaxies on the wall every ten seconds. I want them done digitally so that my adolescents can download them quickly. They will start teleporting in exactly two hours from now.”
“What are they going to be downloading,” Angel asked?
“Each of them will assimilate a thousand galaxies and then teleport out and begin extrapolating the coordinates of the green stars in each of those galaxies. Once they have the coordinates, they will need a searcher to send out.”
Matt pressed his com, “Fleet command, I have a Red Star Priority Command. You will stop whatever you are currently working on and follow this order immediately once it is issued. Stand by until all units are on the circuit.”
“Standing by, Admiral.”
Matt then closed his eyes and everyone in the room heard his thought, “All members of the Stars Realm’s navy will tune their communicators to the following com code; 101001211104062310090918MAG. You will standby to receive your instructions momentarily; while you are waiting you will cease whatever you are currently doing and all communications except for the frequency I’m giving you will cease.”
Angel looked at Stem, “Did everyone hear him?”
“Yes, they did.”
Angle looked at Matt standing there with his eyes closed and wondered how he had developed the mental ability to do what he had just done. She began to worry about what was happening to the man she loved.
Twig put a branch on her shoulder and thought to her, “Be patient. I promise you it is a blessing that you will understand.”
Angel looked up at her and could sense the feelings Twig was having of great joy. “What is happening,” she wondered?
After ten minutes Matt opened his eyes and said, “All of the Realms ships are now on the frequency. Sprig, if you want to add anything to what I’m saying, feel free to interrupt me.”
“I will if necessary, Searcher.”
Matt then pushed his com and said, “All members of the Stars Realm Navy. I am issuing a Red Star Priority Order. All Searchers not currently working with a newly discovered civilization will at the completion of this transmission transmit their com codes to fleet command. Fleet command you will receive these com codes and put them on an active board that will sequentially list every code electronically. All ships of the Realm will be listed on that board including every defender class vessel. I expect that board to be ready and active to receive com codes within an hour. Do you understand, Fleet Command?”
“Yes Sir, the board is being prepared.”
“Once that board is active and receives the fleet’s com codes, we will communicate the address for that board to the Leader of the Algeans who will then give it to the Algean Adolescents that are preparing coordinates for our ships. The Adolescents will then start sending coordinates to the board which will be assigned one to a ship starting at the top of the list. Once a ship receives a coordinate, their com code will be taken off the list until they complete the contact of that civilization. They will then report back in to place their code back on the list.” Matt paused then continued, “The Realm has found a means of finding civilizations that do not practice war. These civilizations have no means of defending themselves and will be our priority in the time that remains until the Eight Legs return. If we are able to contact all of these peaceful planets, then we will begin contacting those that possess military forces. In that for the near future all of our contacts are peaceful, we can assume for the most part that they closely match the principles that guide our Realm. Each Searcher will be given the authority to make agreements with these civilizations and the Realm will support your decisions. We do not have time to go through the channels you have had to follow in the past. Once you have made an agreement, an Algean will teleport to the civilization and install the generator to hide the planet. That Algean will be given the role of doing whatever is necessary to prevent the planet’s destruction once the invasion begins. Our ships will be used to try and meet the invaders head on and blunt their attacks.”
Matt looked at Sprig and Sprig raised his branches indicating he had nothing to add. Matt then said, “Searchers, you have been trained to save life. Our very existence is for the purpose of following our original Queen’s directive to make our universe a better place for those who inhabit it. I cannot think of anything that is more worthy of devoting one’s life to preserve and if it should cost us our lives; then we will be remembered by all for whom we gave all to save. I am honored to share in this divine mission with you and I, along with every member of the Realm, am proud to know you exist performing your gallant quest. Thank you for your attention. Fleet Command, is the board ready?”
“Yes Sir, it is and may we say on behalf of all our sailors; the Realm has chosen a Commander that we are all proud to serve.”
Matt was stunned at the remark and was speechless. Angel keyed her com and said, “Searchers, send your codes.”
Angel moved into Matt’s arms and thought to him, “I, too, am so proud of you. I am honored to be a part of your life.” Matt closed his eyes and held her tight.
Sprig looked at Twig, “Remember, my love?”
“Like it was only a moment ago, Dearest.”
The King looked at his wife and thought, “He knows who he is.”
“Yes, he does. Now he can be told how he came to be.”
“Will we be the ones that tell him?”
“No love, he is still developing. Sprig can handle that detail. We’ll listen in on how he takes it.”
“Later, I feel his love for his mate. I am reminded of when we first found each other and I need you near me now.”
