“Well so do I.”
Scotty interrupted them, “The most important tool we’ll have are our Searchers. They are going to carry the lion’s share of the load in controlling the military bases on the planet. The Zord and Riders will be responsible for protecting and freeing the captured slave populations on the planet.”
Anglo spoke from the speaker, “What about the five Searchers?”
“Jess will handle them. Her beams are strong enough. The other three will support our ground effort.”
“When will we do this?”
“Vring, BC is at Crimeron and is going to tell us when Daulun comes to destroy New Ulmerton. That’s when we’ll teleport our Flyers. Jess, I need you to give all of the locations of the slave camps so we can assign the right number of flyers to each. Anglo, you will assign the military locations for the three of you starting with the largest.”
Silence ruled the moment until Grang said, “This will be great practice.”
Julie started snickering and Grang looked at her and said, “What?”
“You beat Jingo to the first word.”
Jingo said, “No he didn’t. I just wanted him to have it.”
Grang’s mouth fell open and Julie laughed out loud. Scotty sighed and thought, “I hope we’re ready.”
Chapter Seven
Daulun commed Varner, “I’m coming up to make a short trip.”
“How many of us do you want to go with you, Your Majesty?”
“It will be just you and I.”
Varner didn’t like the sound of this. Something was about to happen and it couldn’t be good.
BC was looking at his assignments when he heard the exchange, “Jessica, tell the Emperor that Daulun is taking one Searcher out.”
“I’ve told him. Follow him in.”
“As soon as I read the jump track, I’ll confirm his destination.”
“Don’t waste time getting back.”
“He has to come from the jump limit. I want to keep an eye on the other Searchers for a while before I leave. I’ll still arrive hours ahead of him.”
“Vring notify the Flyers that they go on alert immediately. We’ll know in five hours if it’s a go. Make sure everyone is prepared.”
“Grang and Jingo are on it.”
“What about Mallory and Nathan?”
“They just teleported to New Ulmerton on Jessica along with their fifty Riders; Timmy and Greyson left with them.”
Scotty put his arm around Julie and felt what all leaders feel when they send their followers into harm’s way, anxiety. Julie looked at him and smiled, “They’ll be fine.”
Scotty looked at the thousands of Zord with their riders and prayed she was right.
Daulun boarded Varner and said, “Go into stealth mode and take me to the jump limit.”
“Are you sure you don’t want more escorts?”
“Yes!” Daulun yelled. “Do as you’re ordered.”
The four other Searchers watched as Varner left the planet and finally jumped away. William read the jump track and said, “He’s jumping to New Ulmerton.”
The four said nothing but then Gilene said, “I’m sorry but I can no longer live this lie. I’m going after Varner.”
“Lead the way, we’re going with you.” The four ships moved toward the jump limit.
Canton saw them leaving and hit the panel, “Where do you think you’re going?”
“We were just asked to follow our King on a secure line. Do you want to call him and confirm it?”
“No, no. Do as you’re ordered.” Canton thought a moment about contacting Daulun but feared he would give away the King’s location if he did. “He’s probably afraid that he’ll need cover coming out. Once he gets back we’ll take care of him. Death is always the penalty for treason.”
“William, did you just tell a lie?”
“No, didn’t you ask me to go with you? I didn’t say Daulun asked.”
Gilene laughed, “I guess I did.”
Varner jumped into the New Ulmerton System and Daulun said, “I want you to move in as close as you can to the planet in stealth mode. I do not want anyone to know I’m here. Is that clear?!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Jessica contacted Scotty, “That Searcher is broadcasting everything the Duke says on an open frequency.”
“Can you relay it into the planet wide communications net?”
“Yes, why?”
“I think it will help us if you could.”
As Varner moved closer to the planet he said, “Why are we coming here in stealth mode Your Majesty? This is your home.”
“Shut up and do as you’re told. How close to a planet would you have to be to destroy it?”
“About five hundred miles. Why do you ask?”
“How far are we now?”
“We’re about to move inside five hundred miles from the planet.”
“On New Ulmerton, every communications device on the planet showed a picture of Daulun staring at a display on the bridge of a small ship. Everyone wondered what was going on. Some of Daulun’s military leaders tried to contact him through his com but Varner had communications to his frequency blocked. Then everyone on the planet heard the unbelievable, “I order you to fire on the planet and destroy it. Do it now.”
“Your Majesty, surely you aren’t serious. These are your citizens that support your rule.”
“I’m not going to repeat myself, fire on New Ulmerton now. You have taken an oath to obey me. Do it!”
“Why Your Majesty, just tell me why?”
“Those traitors in my family are living their last day. Do it now!!”
The people on New Ulmerton were stunned by what they heard. They looked up at the sky and waited for death to arrive. Then the citizens heard, “This is Mallory Jongo and I am assuming the throne from my father as of this moment. His treason is obvious and he will be dealt with as soon as we apprehend him. I’m asking all citizens to stay indoors and avoid going outside until I am able to prevent my father’s plan to destroy the planet. I will communicate with you later after this situation is resolved. I am ordering all military forces on New Ulmerton to stand down and stay in their bases. Failure to follow these orders will be dealt with severely.”
Daulun heard Mallory speaking over the speaker in Varner’s control room. “Carry out my orders!”
Varner said, “I’m finished carrying out your orders. If I had doubts before about the validity of your right to rule, you have now removed them. You are a disgrace to the spirit of why the Province was established and you represent everything the Stars Realm fought to defeat.”
“Don’t lecture me. Those tyrants should have been destroyed just like this planet.”
“Hello, Varner, need some help?”
“I was hoping you would be here. I need something done to this piece of filth on my bridge.”
“I’ll take him off your deck if you want?”
“I do.”
Greyson heard Daulun screaming in the background until he was teleported away.
“When did you get teleportation?”
“Just a few months back. Are you alright?”
“It was all a lie, wasn’t it?”
“Yes it was.”
