have that machine’s winnings that night.”
“And spoil all the fun we’ve had? Besides, if I had done that you would have missed your promotion.”
“What fun are you talking about? I’ve almost turned grey at the stress… what? Did you say promotion?”
Manny smiled and said, “Commander Dodd, you are promoted to the rank of Colonel and will assume the command of a special brigade we are forming to attack the Keepers’ garrisons. Your command will be chosen from our best warriors, and we are developing a special mix of weapons for them to use.”
Cynthia was stunned and sat down in a chair, “Why me?”
Joe looked at her, “Because Jake showed us the recording of your fight with the Keepers in which the two of you held the entire garrison at bay for an hour before help arrived. You are more experienced than anyone else we could select to lead this effort.”
“Other than Mr. Talant.”
“Yes, but the Queen has made it clear that she won’t allow him to lead this fight.”
Jake smiled, “If you don’t want the command, Cynthia, we can look for someone else.”
“No! You don’t need to look elsewhere. I’m your gal.”
Manny looked at Jake and smiled, “She really does try to hide her love of fighting.”
“She can’t help it. She thinks if she acts like she wants to fight, you won’t let her.”
Cynthia stuck her tongue out at Jake and said, “I’ll make this command the best in the Realm. When do I start?”
“Report to Fleet Command and ask for Major Glen David. He’ll be your second in command. He’s already started the selection process. He was one of the Red Warriors that fought with you against that garrison. I’ve sent the details to your ship so you’d better get a move on, Colonel.”
Cynthia saluted Manny and disappeared in a teleport screen.
Manny handed Jake a five credit note, “You were right. Her ship was listening in.”
Jake accepted the bet and smiled, “Those two are a good unit.”
Joe said, “They’ll need to be.”
Jake could only nod.
Chapter Seventeen
J ake and Valerie were sitting in front of the fireplace in Valerie’s living room. She was snuggled up next to Jake, holding him as she felt her love for the man she missed every moment he was away. Her eyes were closed and Jake was staring into the flames. Something was wrong and he just couldn’t put his finger on what it was. The feeling started during the meeting and had grown over the last two days. What could it be?
Valerie opened her eyes and looked up at Jake and asked, “Why have you not tried to find the Gardners?”
Jake did a double take and said, “I thought you were asleep.”
“No, I’ve just been enjoying the moment. But I still wonder why you’ve not tried to find them.”
Jake stared at the fire and after a few moments said, “Because it’s not time yet.”
Valerie leaned back and furrowed her brow, “Jake, we’re about to be attacked by millions of Keepers’ ships. When would be the right time?”
Jake sighed and looked at her, “What kind of vision do you think would force the Gardners to disappear, Valerie? What would they have to see that would cause them to go wherever they have gone?”
Valerie thought a moment, “It would have to have been something so extreme that they felt there was no other choice.”
“Exactly. If I find them too soon, then I may cause severe repercussions to what they’ve planned. I sense that the Keepers must invade on a massive scale before they can be found. It would have to have been a vision of that invasion that caused their disappearance.”
“Do you think they can help? Your psychic power is higher than theirs.”
“It’s not the magnitude of power, Valerie. It’s the skill of using what power you possess. I’m still stumbling into what I’m capable of doing and there’s no one, other than Junior, that has a clue about helping me develop my skills. I also think they would not have gone if they did not have some idea of how to handle the current crisis.” Jake looked back at the fire, “We are no closer to finding a weapon to stop their ships. I pray that the Gardners will have an answer to that problem.”
“So you think there is going to be a massive loss of life before we can find them.”
Jake lowered his head and nodded.
“Don’t wait too long, Jake.”
“I hope I know when to act, but once the invasion starts I want you on board with Junior and me.”
“Is Ross in danger?”
Jake looked at Valerie and said, “We are all in danger. No place in the Realm will be safe, and I’m pretty certain that the Keepers have scouts in our universe just as we do in theirs. I’m of the belief that they know Ross’s importance and it will be a top priority target for the initial attack. Once our scouts determine the invasion is beginning, I want you with me. You should also make Joe leave the castle and join the fleet. I keep sensing that Ross is in great danger.”
“Then you think the generators won’t work.”
“No, I just believe they will chase Ross wherever we move it. They have scanners that will be tuned to Ross and they will be chasing it no matter where we send it. You won’t be able to function as the ruler of the Realm if you are being constantly forced to run from their fleets.”
“Have you made any plans if what you say is true?”
“Yes. Sprig has set up a schedule of more than ten thousand locations for Ross to go that are preprogrammed into the teleport system. Some of the locations are more than fifty hours from the jump limit. I still think the Keepers will not give up no matter how many times we move it, but it’s the best we can do.”
“What will the Realm think about me not staying with the planet?”
“They’ll never know you’re not there. Once the moves start communications with Ross will be next to impossible. Unfortunately, every planet will be on its own until we find a way to kill their ships. The Spiders and Algeans will be in control of the mayhem that is bound to happen when thousands of planets start teleporting.”
Jake thought a moment and asked, “What did Sprig mean about Duke Jongo?”
Valerie sighed, “He has been making life oppressive for the civilizations in his domain. The military, both Searchers and Red Warriors, under his command have been chosen for their loyalty to him instead of the Realm. If the Keepers were not an issue, we would have eventually been forced to remove him as the ruler of the Kosiev province.”
“Are you saying civil war, Valerie?”
“He has his eye on the Stars Realm throne, Jake. He may use this as an opportunity to seize the crown. He has not given any of his forces to assist in this fight, and we cannot make it an issue while we are facing the Keepers’ invasion.”
Jake shook his head, “Is he that blinded by ambition?”
“Yes, and he has infected his forces with the same disease. This has been developing for more than five hundred years and it has accelerated over the last twenty. He is building his own ships, and the taxation his subjects have to pay to build up his military is oppressive. Gambia was in his province and he extorted huge sums from the merchants to subsidize his army. He allowed them to stay in power as long as they paid to be left alone.”
“Are his ships as good as the Gammas?”
“Yes.”
Jake’s internal alarm went off at full blast, “Then that’s another reason for you to be with me. Not only is Ross a target for the Keepers, but I can see where it would also be a target for the Duke.”
Valerie nodded, “I will join you at the first sign of trouble.”
“No, Valerie; you will join me now. If he’s going after Ross he won’t wait until we start moving it; he’ll strike
