Chapter Nine
The Collective continued to correlate the collected data, “Military, are you ready to offer your conclusions?”
“There are many unknowns. Whoever destroyed the green ships obviously had a weapon that penetrated their hulls. Our hull material is much harder than the Green Hulls, but we don’t know if that would stop whatever weapon was used. That uncertainty causes great distress in deciding the next step.”
“Science?”
“I agree with Military; we don’t know enough to determine just how big a danger we face in that universe. I did see one thing in the scans that bears discussion. They showed large numbers of ships very similar to the one we destroyed at the farm.”
The Collective gave a mental agreement, “I also saw that. I also see that there is not one race that pilots those ships. The thoughts were diverse, and there were thousands of different creatures in those vessels. It would seem that no one race controls that universe.”
Sociology interjected, “I see that the Green Creatures are no longer living in ships but are on planets. Is it possible that after they were conquered they were made slaves?”
The Collective stopped its data analysis, “I did not see that. That is an interesting proposal.” There was a half second of silence while the Collective looked at all the data again, “I think we need to go see what is happening on those planets. We should eliminate them to prevent them from giving information about our capabilities.”
Military replied, “I would think they have already done that long ago.”
“Not if they are slaves. If they are not slaves, then they would represent our biggest threat in that they understand the technology of our ships’ hulls.”
There was silence. Production broke the silence by saying, “Then you are planning to send our forces into that universe?”
“We have killed one of their ships here. Do you not think they are a real threat to us?”
Again there was silence.
Military asked, “How do you envision this happening?”
The Collective hesitated, “We will send a hundred thousand ships to destroy the planets of the Green Creatures. We will evaluate our success or failure and then decide the next step. Military, when are all the ships due to come back?”
“They are arriving now.”
“Are the requisite number here now?”
“Yes; more than double that number.”
“Send the hundred thousand and have the others prepared to follow if needed.”
“Your orders are being issued.”
“I also noticed another interesting bit of data from our scans.”
“What was that, Biology?”
“The three races at the farm where we destroyed that ship have others of their kind in that universe. Their thought frequency matches the inhabitants of many worlds.”
The Collective thought about that, “I want no further harvesting of the farm where the ship was killed.”
Military and Production both thought, “Why? We need the food.”
“If those races at the farm actually came from that universe then that explains why that strange ship was there. I want options available in the event things don’t happen according to plan. We will use those races as hostages if needed and the more of them living there, the greater their value in bargaining.”
“What about our garrison there?”
“They have enough stores to survive a long time. Send them their instructions.”
Production was concerned about the direction the Collective was taking but replied, “They have acknowledged their orders.
“Edison!”
“Yes, Newton.”
“The Searchers we stationed at Hallago’s jump limit have detected thousands of ships coming out of universal drive and moving in-system.”
“Are those Searchers coated with the telepathy coating?”
“Yes, and they are also in stealth mode. It appears they have not been seen by the incoming ships. They will arrive at the planet in twelve hours.”
Edison thought for a moment, “We need to use this to get them to doubt their scanners. When they arrive ten hours out from the planet start having ten percent of the population teleport away every hour such that when they are an hour out, the remainder of the population leaves.”
“What do you think that will do?”
“If it were me in their place it would cause me to question why I see a huge population and as I get closer it disappears. Perhaps it would make them think we can trick their scanners into seeing nonexistent populations.”
Newton thought a moment, “We’ll have the last ten percent teleport from the side of the planet away from them so their teleport screens won’t be seen. I’m sure they will see the thoughts of the last group through the planet, but the teleport energy should be blocked.”
“Do it just that way, Newton. You might also get those teleporting away to move to the other side of the planet to leave. Notify the planet and make sure they know the plan.”
The Director of the Keepers Fleet watched his board as his ships moved in-system from the jump limit. He could see the huge population’s mental signature and knew there were billions of Green Creatures. Two intervals into the system the population’s mental signature appeared weaker. He directed a thought to his sensor operator, “I think the strength of my signal has changed.”
“It has; about ten percent weaker.”
“What caused that?”
“I’ve checked the sensor system and it appears to be operating normally, but there is no doubt; the signal is weaker.”
An interval passed and the Director saw another signal reduction, “What is happening here?”
“I cannot account for the change, Director. It is now twenty percent weaker.”
The Director watched his board all the way in to the planet and the signal dropped ten percent every interval the fleet moved closer to the planet. At one interval the signal disappeared completely. “Scan that planet visually.”
The sensor operator scanned with the ship’s optical system, “There are no inhabitants on the planet.”
“But I see buildings and vehicles and everything that would indicate this planet is heavily populated.”
“Perhaps, but nothing shows up on my scans.”
“Send ten scouts down to the surface. Now!”
The huge fleet of a hundred thousand brown ships waited in orbit as the ten scouts flew down and scanned the surface. “They report nothing, Director.”
“Have them land and check the buildings.”
The ten scouts landed and the fifty Keepers moved into the buildings. “Director, there is no one here. The buildings all have power and appear to have been occupied, but there is no one here now.”
The Director was at a loss as to what was happening. Who would construct an entire planet with buildings, vehicles, and all the other elements of an advanced civilization just to deceive our scanners? That would also suggest that his fleet was expected.
“Edison?”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“My Searchers have been looking closely at those ships as they moved in-system and report that their drives seem to have a different color on the edges than the hull.”
“Show me what you’ve recorded, please.”
Joseph Gardner pushed a button on his console and Edison saw the close up of the ships’ drives. “It is a
