million in our total inventory.”
“How many worlds do the Keepers have enslaved?”
Manny looked away again, but Junior answered, “Between twenty and twenty five million.”
Jake smiled, “Last question, how many Gammas does the Realm have?”
Junior said, “I had a hand in building most of them; about twenty seven million.”
Jake helped Valerie out of his lap and walked over in front of the main display, “We don’t need the transports to come in and take the communities. The Gammas have a teleport system that can produce the necessary field underground. The vast majority of the farms have the Keepers’ garrison located between eight and twenty miles from the communities, and I suspect the Keepers’ ship protecting the planet will be stationed above the garrison. We’ll use a Gamma to come around the planet in stealth mode and form the teleport field under the communities. The field will have the coordinates of a transport’s bay that will jump into open space between galaxies. Once the transport arrives it will notify the Gamma, which at that moment will lock the field at a hundred feet and pull it up over the communities. The Searcher will teleport a captor ball into the garrison set for the specific size of that facility, with enough extra to insure none are missed, as it teleports away. The transport will also jump back to the Realm. I suspect the time needed to make this happen will only be seconds. The Keepers’ ships will not have time to react. Remember, they have to build up the field to fire it. I just don’t believe they can keep the beam operational over an extended period of time.”
Junior said, “You think we can move all twenty million planets at one time?”
Jake said, “Have you been listening in, Sprig?”
There was a slight pause and Sprig said, “How did you know?”
“Because the trust you once had for the Realm no longer exists.”
Manny, Joe, and Valerie were shocked silent.
Sprig finally said, “You’re right.”
Jake slowly shook his head, “I don’t blame you. I feel the same way.”
Valerie, Joe, and Manny all started speaking at once and Jake said, “I’ll explain in detail later, but please consider this.”
The group stopped talking and listened, “What if the Duke’s plan had been successful? Who would control the Realm and what would that mean for the Algeans?” Jake waited a long moment and continued, “I want you to think about that, and we’ll discuss it later. However, we have other important issues to handle right now.”
“Sprig, how long will it take you to prepare thirty million planets for new populations?”
Sprig’s leaves that had turned dark brown suddenly turned green, “Are you planning to move all of those farms to my galaxy?”
Jake nodded and said, “It’s the only place I believe they will be protected.”
Sprig stared at Jake for a long time, and finally said, “I’ll explain everything once this conflict is resolved; you have my promise.” Sprig straightened, “I’ll put ten billion of my adolescents on the project. We should have them ready within five months.”
“Edison?”
“The group heard a mental sigh, “Yes, Jake?”
“I need you and the Algeans to assign the transports and Searchers to a specific farm with the needed coordinates to take them to their new homes. Can you do that in the necessary time frame?”
Edison sighed again and said, “We’ll have that part done in less than a month.”
“Manny, Joe, and Valerie, I need you to work on making this happen. Valerie will be joining you at fleet command for the near future.”
Valerie said, “If you think I am going to leave you now; you’re wrong!”
“You must, Valerie. It’s time to find them.”
Valerie looked into Jake’s eyes and said, “I will not question any more decisions you make. I’m sorry for doubting you. I love you so much; I just can’t stand being away from you.”
Jake hugged Valerie and said, “Junior, send her to Fleet Command.”
Jake saw her tears as she disappeared.
Sprig and Edison looked at each other on their displays, “It appears he knows our plan.”
Edison nodded, “Does that surprise you?”
“Not really. Humans have always shocked me with what they can accomplish.”
“My brother still thinks they’re smarter than us, and I’m beginning to believe him.”
“There’re different kinds of smart, Edison.”
“I know. It’s the important kind that the humans possess.”
There was a long moment of silence and Edison finally asked, “Do you think the Gardners will make a difference?”
Sprig sighed and said, “Yes, they will make things much worse.”
Edison nodded, “I see it the same way, my old friend.”
Chapter Twenty
Jake sat in the command chair and thought about all that had just happened. The bridge remained silent for an hour, and finally Junior asked, “What gave me away?”
“You set up the Duke.”
“How did that let you know?”
“I asked if a teleport field could be blocked and you went to the Algeans and found the means to do it. That mechanism was not developed at that exact moment, so it had to exist prior to my question. You must have already known of its existence since you were heavily involved in the Realm’s ship construction. You chose to pretend ignorance.”
“That’s true.”
“It got me started thinking. You were able to see a ship that was in full stealth mode sneaking away from Ross, and you volunteered to destroy it. That told me the Algeans had put a weapons system on you that was stronger than any ship in the Realm’s fleet. If you have it, the Algeans have it.”
“You’re right again.”
“That means the Algeans will only give technology to the Realm that they are able to counter if necessary. Once I made that determination, the rest was simple.”
“Then you understand all the implications of what you’re planning?”
“Yes, I do; but you and I have no choice.”
“There is always a choice.”
“Not in this instance, Junior. The Realm has two issues confronting it, and one of them is the Keepers. Have you discovered a weapon to kill their ships?”
“No, Jake.”
“Then it boils down to this; which gets more attention: a blaster being fired at you from ten feet, or a missile coming at you from a distance?”
“Well, if you’re going to die anyway…. I guess the blaster. One never really knows what will happen if one is given more time.”
“That’s how I see it.”
“I notice you didn’t say anything to the Realm’s leadership.”
“The real leaders aren’t here.”
“You make a good point.”
“You know what your parents will say about this?”
“I’ve already turned down my hearing.”
Jake looked at his communications log and noticed it was full. He reached over and turned it off. “Junior, I need to be able to trust you to follow my plan.”
“What is the difference between the two?”
“The end result will probably be the same, but the route will be considerably different.”
