“Can we catch it?”
“No, but we should be able to scan its jump track and follow it.”
“Get moving. Fleet Control, we have an intruder moving out of the system. I am giving chase.”
“Do you want me to join you?”
“Couldn’t hurt; try to keep up.”
“I’ll be right behind you. What do your scanners say?”
“That’s just it. It doesn’t appear on my scan.”
“Could it be another Searcher?”
“Or any one of twenty other types of ships. Are there any ships at the limit that can intercept?”
“No, you know we don’t allow ships in this system. We’ll know if it’s a Searcher based on its speed.”
“We are gaining on it, but it has too big a lead to arrive before it jumps.”
“Nathan, I’m not going to go full speed. I have a hundred null jumps programmed in and I’ll make them quickly. I’m hoping that by the time they reach the last jump, the track will have dissipated. Since my teleport system leaves no tracks, I’m hoping that’s what those two Searchers think.”
“I noticed they are gaining ground on us.”
“They’ll arrive ten minutes after we jump.”
“Why haven’t they fired on us?”
“We’re too far away. Ten minutes is more than six million miles. They’re good, but not that good.”
“How much time will we gain one each jump, Anglo?”
“They’ll take one second to come out of star drive. They’ll have to scan for the new jump track, load it into their null board, then energize the screen with the new frequency. We’ll come out of star drive and our screen will immediately energize the preprogrammed frequency. We should gain about two seconds on every jump.”
“Is that enough?”
“Tracks fade after three minutes; sometimes faster when the jumps are made in systems with dense dust clouds. We’re deliberately jumping through fifty
systems with nebula clouds in them. First jump in 5,4,3,2,1,…”
“Did you get that jump track?”
“Yes, I’m sending it to your board.”
“Lead the way; you’re three seconds ahead of me. I’ll be right behind you.”
The first Searcher arrived and jumped after the fleeing ship.
Anglo arrived at the Haldale System and commed, “I need to speak with the planetary leader.”
After ten minutes a voice said, “This is Baron Lihal. How may I be of service?”
“Your Highness, your system is going to be invaded momentarily and we are not going to be able to prevent it. There are Searcher Ships that will be aiding the invaders and until we come up with a defense against them, we are going to have to allow them to invade. However, I need you to do some things quickly that will assist us in coming back to free you.”
The Baron’s voice was obviously nervous, “What things?”
“You need to erase any other planet’s coordinates in your computer systems so that the invaders will not be able to find them. You need to tell your population that they need to say they are isolated and only have an occasional trader. You will have to assume a title of President instead of Baron. They will know that there must be a higher Royal title if you are a Baron. You will need to welcome them and offer absolutely no resistance. They will still be brutal, but if you open the door for them it will be much less so than if you fight. You must not let them know you are part of a larger Kingdom. Tell them that you have been threatened with invasion by some empire. If asked, you must say you know nothing about ships being destroyed in your system. Will you do these things?”
“There’s nothing you can do?”
“Not at this time, but I give you my oath that we will not forget you and we will come to free you.”
“We will do as you ask. What about our military?”
“Hide their blasters, make them appear to be policemen, and don’t give the invaders a reason to kill your people.”
“We will do as you ask. I will notify all our ships to stay away until this is over.”
“Thank you, your Highness. We will return. I promise you that.”
A small round probe moved out of the larger probe on Anglo’s hull and moved toward the planet. Anglo teleported out of the system ten minutes before the two Searchers arrived.
“Whoever that was we were chasing knew how to use systems to mask their tracks.
“You think they came from this system?”
“This is where our ships were attacked. It must have followed them from here. However, I don’t see any ships in this system. That planet is industrialized, but my scans don’t show any advanced technology. There is a spaceport at their largest city, but it’s not very big or developed.”
“We should report back to the King and see what he wants to do.”
“You go, and I’ll stay here and see if anything shows up. Com me to let me know what’s going to happen.”
“I will. You let me know if you need me back here.”
“I will. I wouldn’t want to be on that planet when Daulun takes his vengeance over those lost ships.”
“He’ll probably kill most of them and make the rest slaves.”
“That would be a huge waste of a good planet.”
“Has that ever stopped him before?”
“No.”
“I’ll keep you updated.”
The probe listened and waited.
Chapter Fifteen
Anglo teleported to Bristone and Nathan immediately commed Scotty, “Your Majesty, we have a planet in the Talben Kingdom that is going to be invaded by ships that are supported by six Gamma Class Searchers.”
“What?!?”
Anglo quickly brought Scotty up to speed on what had happened.
“You say the planet attacking them is named New Ulmerton?”
“Yes, and I believe the two Searchers that were chasing me went there after I left. I’m certain the ruler of that planet will invade.”
“BC, are you listening to this?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Anglo, send me to BC.”
“Your Majesty, BC cannot defeat that many Gammas. Two of them could overwhelm his defenses.”
“He’s right; if they have six Gammas we can’t win a shootout.”
Julie listened to the conversations and grabbed Scotty by the arm, “You will not go to that system without promising me you will not take on those Searchers.”
Scotty stared at Julie, and finally said, “BC, can you hide from them?”
“Yes.”
Scotty stared at Julie and said, “I give you my word that I will not take action against them until we have better odds in our favor.”
Julie looked at Jingo and said, “Go with him. Make sure he comes back to me, Jingo.”
Jingo looked at Scotty and said, “If you want to make sure he does, you have to go.”
“Jingo!”
“You’re right.” Julie turned to Scotty, “I’m going with you. If all you’re going to do is hide, then I have nothing to worry about.”
Scotty sighed heavily, “BC?”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
