The seven hundred ships moved inexorably toward the planet and would soon be in range of their orbital beams. The fleet has lost two thirds of their initial attack force but the Heramu never retreated. This planet was going to die. The Fleet Commander looked at his display and saw a ship’s force field blown away. The ship then exploded from something. The beam had not hit the ship but it blew up as if it did. Then he saw ship after ship in the front ranks exploding. His weapons officer yelled, “Our screen just died.” He had just enough time to realize that his time was up and life was ending. The initial blast tore through the bridge and he never felt the disintegration of his body.
Jingo observed the destruction of the Heramu fleet and took a deep breath. Something had to be done with the Flyer’s armor. The beam just wasn’t strong enough to break through a ships force field. He knew the fleet was available to use at times like this but it would be nice if a Flyer had the power it needed to handle it alone. Perhaps the group at the Defense Facility would come up with an answer.
“We have another Heramu Fleet at another planet. Their forces are currently landing troops. The defending fleet has been destroyed.”
Jingo sighed, “Send me the coordinates.” The Heramu were bent on killing any civilized planet near their borders and their borders were constantly expanding. I wonder why there are so many aggressive species in this universe. Well, time to go. “Jessica, will you go with us?”
“There are more than three thousand ships in this fleet. We’ll handle the fleet; you take out the troops on the ground.”
“I wonder why they’re landing troops. They usually just destroy the planet from space.”
“That’s the odd thing, Jingo. Their beams and missiles don’t make it into the atmosphere. Something on the planet is stopping them.”
“Then how did their drops ships get through?”
“You’re going to have to answer that when you get there.”
Jingo thought about it and sent a message, “Grang, what’s your status?”
“We just finished stopping a Heramu attack ten hours ago.”
“I’m going to have to stop an invasion of a planet where they have launched troops. Are you able to assist me?”
“I’ve never seen them land troops.”
“That’s why I want you here. Something is going on.”
“My Flyers can use the training on stopping ground attacks. Send me the location.”
“You’ve got it; link in to my net when you arrive.”
“On my way; Scotty would be proud.”
“Of that, I am sure, my Brother.”
Jingo and Cezee teleported in over a small city just as the drop ships arrived and began hitting them with Cezee’s main beam. Jingo hit ten troops that exited the small craft firing blasters at the surrounding buildings. All ten were hit in the head and dropped where they stood.
The troops on the ground looked up but couldn’t see what was killing them. They knew that to stay near their ships was certain death so they ran toward the buildings. Jingo keyed his command circuit, “If they get into the buildings we’ll have to go after them on foot. Stop as many as you can.”
Grang arrived with a Flock and sent them down to stop the mad rush by the drop troops to get into the city. Jingo and he watched as their Flyers picked them off by the hundreds with small two inch blaster beams. “Looks like the training is paying off.”
Jingo nodded, “How I wish I could get in the middle of the fighting.”
“Me, too. But Scotty listened to us when he desperately wanted to go and steal the Military Database and I feel like I would dishonor his memory to act differently.”
Jingo looked at Grang, “I feel the same way.” He turned back to watch the fight on the ground and smiled.
Alex looked at the new probe, “This one should function properly.”
Trey looked at the hull and nodded. Suddenly a probe flew in and entered the Facility’s mainframe. “What was that, Alex?”
“Jingo and Grang are reporting on the fight against the Heramu on a planet.”
“Did you say on a planet?”
“Yes, it seems nothing the Heramu fired at the planet made it into the atmosphere. Jingo reported blue flashes stopping everything.”
Trey jumped up and yelled, “Kreej, get over here! Give me the coordinates of that fight, Alex!!”
“Hey, settle down. They say they’re getting everything under control.”
“Alex sometimes I could take you apart bolt by bolt. Give me those coordinates now!”
Alex sent them to Trey’s armor, “Get us there Kreej.”
Weed and Seed looked at Carter, “What was that all about?”
“I honestly don’t know. However, whatever it is must be huge for Trey to respond like that.”
Kreej arrived at the planet and Trey looked for Jingo and Grang, “I’ve got them.”
Trey looked at his helmet display, “Thanks, Kreej. Take me there.”
Trey teleported in and Jingo was startled, “Trey, what are you doing here?”
“I want you to tell me what you saw when the Heramu fired on the planet.”
“I only saw the very end of their barrage but it appeared their weapons were being stopped by something that flashed blue every time a weapon hit the upper atmosphere.”
“Did you record it?”
“I’ll send it to you.”
Trey watched and followed a nuclear missile as it flew in toward the planet. It arrived at the edge of the atmosphere and disappeared. Trey slowed the recording down and he saw the missile fall apart and disintegrate. He replayed the recording and closed his eyes. He saw the blue field and traced it back to a building in a clearing on a high mountain. It was no longer functioning and whatever had sent it was no longer using it. Kreej watched the vision in Trey’s mind and found the mountain on the maps in his download from Alex. Trey and Kreej teleported away. Jingo looked at Grang, “What’s going on?”
“I…don’t know.” Grang keyed his mic, “Hemk, you’re in command.”
“Steven, you have the Flocks.”
“Yes Sir, switching control in 3, 2, 1…I have the circuit.”
Grang and Jingo teleported after Trey.
Kreej and Trey landed in a clearing next to what was obviously a temple. Trey dismounted and listened in his mind for anyone inside the building. He heard nothing. He closed his eyes and used his psychic ability to see the universe and his vision was blocked at the temple’s walls. “Cassie, are you getting this?”
“I am and no I don’t understand what’s happening.”
“You asked me a while back why I felt pressured to send the Flyers to this universe.”
“I remember.”
“I think this is the reason.”
“But you told me there was something dangerous in that universe?”
“Like I said, this is the reason.”
“Trey, I’m not sure you should go in that building.”
“Do you sense anything?”
“No, and that’s the reason why. My ability to pick the right path is not working. I am blind to what’s in there. I sense that I’ll be blocked if you step inside those walls.”
“You know I’ve got to go in.”
Cassie was in turmoil, “I know.”
“I love you.”
“Just make sure you come out.”
