Ashes of the Realm - Death of an Empire (Ashes of the Realm (Book Three)) (28 page)
Read Ashes of the Realm - Death of an Empire (Ashes of the Realm (Book Three)) Online
Authors: Saxon Andrew
“They’re powering up their weapons.”
“Fire a beam through their force field.”
The Searcher fired an intense beam at the brightly glowing white ship and saw it splash and dissipate on the ship’s Screen.”
“Greyson, if you please.”
The Searcher saw a brilliant white beam erupt from the ship above the planet and blow through its screen, disrupting it.”
“If we see you power your teleportation board we will disable your drives. Do you understand?”
The force field was restored after two seconds but the ship and its pilot knew that it was useless against the beam that had just been fired. “I thought that ship posed no threat to you?”
“Evidently, I was wrong.”
The Searcher stared at the bright ship and thought, “What is it you want?”
Trey remained silent for twenty seconds which seemed like an eternity to those that were involved in the conversation, “You want to know why all the civilizations in this universe are dead. I want to tell you but I will only discuss it with your leadership. You should also be aware that your Realm is going to be destroyed shortly and, though I personally don’t care if it is, we feel you should at least have a chance to save yourselves.”
“Do you know anything about the psychic blast that just happened?”
“I do.”
The Searcher waited and finally said, “But you aren’t going to tell me?”
“No, I’m not. We will be back here in exactly seven days to have our conversation with your leaders. If they chose not to come, we feel we have done what we could to save you and you deserve what you get.”
The Searcher watched the bright ship glow slightly brighter and then disappear. “Can you see where they went?”
“No. They left no trace. What are you going to do?”
The Spider replayed the recording of the beam that blew its force field away and shook its head, “The Crown must view what happened here.”
The white ship started glowing bright purple and disappeared in the flash of its dimensional drive.
* * *
Greyson arrived in orbit above New Hope. Jingo looked at Trey, “That was a Stars Realm ship.”
“Yes it was.”
Jingo looked at Carter and Grang before saying, “What happens now?”
“We see if they’re worth saving. If they aren’t, we let them die.”
Carter shook his head, “Doesn’t that violate our principles?”
“You’re assuming they are unable to defend themselves and you’re also thinking they are friends. They are not our friends, Carter. We owe them nothing.”
“But our ancestors were once a part of the Realm and we live by their principles.”
“The Realm lost that loyalty when they turned their backs on us and have long ago lost their principles. There is a price for indifference and they will pay for their sins.”
“Are you saying they will be destroyed?”
Trey sighed and looked at Cassie who shook her head, “I lost my family because of their actions. I haven’t decided whether or not they deserve salvation.”
Grang looked at Trey, “Have you forgotten your Grandfather’s lessons?”
“Not yet. That’s the only reason we came here. We’ll see what our decision will be a week from now.”
Cassie smiled, “But first there will be a ceremony.”
Trey smiled, “Greyson, send our three honored guests back to the surface.”
Grang, Jingo, and Carter disappeared and Trey took his long awaited love into his arms and gave her all of his attention. The blue glow that surrounded them grew brighter as he picked her up and left the Bridge.
The End
Return of the Stars Realm
T
he Royal Family sat in the conference room and listened to the Searcher as he delivered his report. They watched the video of the encounter with the old Zeta Ship and saw the power of the beam used to disrupt the Searcher’s force field.
“They said that we are going to be destroyed?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, and he said he personally didn’t care if we were.”
Tag looked at Danielle and saw her troubled expression. He turned on his panel and saw the millions of planets that had been destroyed in their former universe. He looked at the Queen and then said, “Has every civilized planet in our old universe been destroyed?”
The Spider paused and said, “Yes, they are all blasted down to the bed rock and broken in multiple places.”
“Do you think that ship was responsible for that the destruction?”
“No, the readings indicate a beam that was much weaker was used to cause the destruction.”
“Then where did that old Zeta Ship come from?”
“The Defense Facility we left behind had twenty of them in storage. I must assume that it came from there.”
“How long ago were they destroyed?”
“Between ten to twelve years ago.”
Newton looked around the table and said, “The analysis indicates a beam very similar to those used by the white ships.”
Matthew’s gaze hardened, “Are you suggesting Demons?”
Newton shrugged.
Danielle said, “They were attacked by an outside force.” Everyone looked at her and she said, “The one that spoke to you is angry at us and blames us for the destruction.”
“How do you know that?”
Danielle tilted her head and Matthew said, “I sometimes forget your ability. If that’s true, what does that mean to us?”
“It means there is real danger to us from the ones that made that ship. It also means that his statement about our destruction is true as well and he was talking about a different threat. It’s imperative that we meet with them and determine what they know.”
Queen Valerie Gardner Talant looked at her husband and he nodded, “Then we will send out strongest warriors to conduct the conversation. Are the Kosiev updates complete?”
“Yes they are, Your Majesty.”
Valerie looked around the table and said, “Tag, Danielle, Cassandra, and Jake will go to meet with them. I want you to take Newton and Sprig with you to see if we can determine their strength. You will go in the Alexander Kosiev. How does it match up to that ship?”
Newton lowered closer to the floor and said, “It should be an even match between the two.”
“Then take the twin with you. The two of them should be able to handle the situation.”
Danielle slowly shook her head, “I’m not sure a show of force is called for in this instance.”
“I’m not sending you unless I know you’re protected.”
Tag looked at Danielle and saw she wasn’t saying something. She glanced at him and then turned and lowered her head to the Queen, “We will leave in five days to meet with the one who said we’re going to be destroyed.”
Jake hoped the two ships were going to be enough.
The Annihilation Series:
Ashes of the Realm:
Lens of Time
Planet Predators
S
axon Andrew is the author of the number one bestselling Annihilation Series. All seven books of the series have been a number one bestseller on Amazon’s kindle Science Fiction Series. Ashes of the Realm is the second series created by him and continues the history of the Stars Realm after its destruction. A third series, The Lens of Time, will be published in early 2012.
His books are written so that anyone can enjoy them and not worry about their children picking them up. He lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife and looks forward to each day so he can write the stories that his fans enjoy.
Copyright © 2012 by Saxon Andrew. All rights reserved. Screen Writers Guild no. VQEA3E380432.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author or publisher.
First Electronic Edition: May 2012
