destroyed.”
“What do we do?”
“We need to see what they want.” The Leader pushed the send pad, “What are you ordering us to do?”
“You will recall all your ships and occupying forces from the worlds you have conquered and return all the captives you’ve brought here to their home worlds. Once that is done you will disarm your ships and only use them commercially. You may travel between the three planets of your species but that is all. If you go outside that space I will destroy your planets.”
“Just how do you think you’ll do that?”
Suddenly the eight leaders saw the closest moon hit with a giant beam and exploded into dust. The beam then hit the dust and burned it out of existence. “I don’t want to have the dust fall on your planet and disrupt your atmosphere. However, I won’t worry about the dust your planet leaves behind.”
The incoming ships saw one of the strange ships fire on the moon and destroy it. The beam was more than five hundred miles wide and had blown completely through it. The ships in front of the oncoming fleet stopped and moved no closer.
All of the military installations on the planet saw the moon’s destruction and felt unimaginable fear. Were they next?
“You should also be aware that this is your only opportunity to survive. If you don’t agree to my demands I will go and destroy the other two planets as well. If you agree but they refuse to listen, I’ll destroy them.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“I represent an agency that follows a principle that those civilizations that cannot defend themselves against aggression will be protected.” Maddy didn’t want to say more but couldn’t stop herself, “Things look very different from the other end of a blaster, don’t they? Your days of wanton destruction and killing of innocent civilizations is ending and your survival means nothing to us. I honestly hope you turn my offer down. After all the horror you’ve caused, I’ll enjoy giving you what you’ve been delivering. Please tell me you refuse.”
Maddy waited a moment and said, “I know you’re thinking that we won’t fire on you and kill all the captives you’re holding on the planet, however, we will remove them and then kill you. Please turn your attention to the compound located at the northern edge of your city,”
Maddy turned to her Drive Officer, “Are you ready?”
He nodded and activated his board. The two million slaves in the compound were covered with a silver field that dropped on them and they disappeared. Some of the guards turned their blasters toward the silver field and were immediately burned into ash. The other guards dropped their weapons and looked around in all directions. The Riders that had teleported to the planet’s surface in stealth mode continued to keep close watch on the slave compounds.
The eight leaders were stunned. The Head Leader looked at the other seven, “We know what it means to be a conqueror. A stronger foe has found us.” He leaned forward and pushed a button, “We will agree to your demands.”
“Just to make sure you understand the details so there won’t be any misunderstandings; if any captive is harmed during the transfer, your world dies. If your forces on your captive planets harm the local populations, your worlds die. You have ten rotations of your planet to bring all your occupying forces back. You will have ten more to complete the return the captives. We will remain here to insure your compliance and I’ll have a ship at all of your conquests to insure you keep your agreement. Do you understand?”
“We need more time.”
“That is not something you have. I suggest you get your ships moving to bring your forces back.”
“Sir, their communications have increased to more than a hundred times normal.”
Maddy leaned back in her chair and smiled, “Keep the other compounds locked in. I hope they don’t force us to sort all of them out to get them home.”
“The planet Emperor Valrico forced to do this ultimately had to be destroyed. Do you think that will happen here?”
Maddy looked down at the beautiful planet, “Probably, but the hard work should be done before we’re forced to take that action. Some lessons are just not learned by those that prey on the innocent.” She looked over at her Communications Officer, “What’s happening at the other two planets?”
“They’re arguing with the Leaders about this but I think they’re going to comply. The Head of this group has told them he will attack them himself if they don’t start following his demands.”
Maddy looked back at the planet, “Maybe I’m wrong and they will survive. We’ll see.”
Jingo and Trey sat on board Greyson and listened as Maddy handled the aggressor planet. “You’ve got to be proud!”
Jingo stared at the display and smiled, “I am. She is so much like her mother.”
“And her Father as well.”
“Yeah, I guess she is. I’ve been worried that her fast advancement in rank would be resented.”
“The ships under her command are some of the best in the Empire’s Fleet. They know they have a great Commander. I think we need to give her a fleet.”
“Not yet, Trey; she needs more experience.”
“Jingo, we desperately need good Flag Officers. You know our numbers are growing faster than we can control and she runs a tight organization. She can bring her officers from her ship with her but we need her now.”
“Who will she report to?”
Trey thought a minute and said, “She’ll report to Paul Blake and take command of his Fifth Fleet. The eight hundred ships in that fleet are basically new and they need someone with experience. I’ll have Timmy cut the orders.”
“Why don’t you just move her ships into that Fleet?”
“No, I’m going to promote one of our more promising Captains over them. Those sailors will help him get his legs under him.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“We’re making progress. Stay on top of this.”
Jingo looked at Trey, “How much longer before we take on the Black Ships?”
“The Robbins is due to be launched in two years. We’ll start our attacks a year before it’s completed.”
“Then we need to hurry.”
“Yes, we do.”
Maddy teleported aboard the HMS Retribution and the crew came to attention. Captain Jason Oliver saluted and said. “All present and accounted for, Sir!”
Maddy looked at the Captain and saw he looked nervous. Good! There was a lot to do and not much time. She returned his salute and said, “At ease, Captain.”
The crew assumed an at ease posture and she looked over the two hundred sailors on her Flagship. She stared at them for a long moment and then said, “We will start our training immediately.” She pressed her com and Lt. Jent sounded the alarm, “Battle stations, all hands to battle stations.” The red lights started flashing throughout the ship and Captain Oliver saw Maddy press her stop watch. He rushed out of the landing bay and Maddy slowly made her way to the Bridge. The ship was almost a mile long so this should tell her how good the crew was trained. “Lt. Jing, I want to know how long it takes for all departments to report in.”
“Aye, aye, Sir.”
Maddy walked through the landing bay doors and saw one of the sailors disappear. She noticed that he was wearing the uniform of a weapon’s operator and made a note on her com. She arrived at the Bridge and looked at Lt. Jent, “Two minutes, thirty four seconds, Sir.”
She took her seat in the Command Chair and turned on the general display where all the members of the crew could see her, “One of you teleported to your assignment; you have a minute to report to the bridge.”
She waited while the crew remained at Battle Stations. The sailor that had teleported came running onto the Bridge and came to attention. The crew watched their displays and was thankful they were not under the Admiral’s gaze.
