No Technology Is Invincible (The Death Prophecies-Book Four 4) (21 page)

“Ten days ago our detection fields around the black hole were penetrated by something. We’ve examined the course it was moving and have come up empty handed.”

“Do you think that whatever was detected is here in this lifeless system?”

The Royal shrugged slightly, “The energy that was detected here has been analyzed by our scientists and they have reported that it was caused by a blaster beam that was used by the ships that have been invading our territory. You are aware of how difficult it is to find them and the Royal Family has decreed that we will stay here searching until evidence of it being somewhere else presents itself.”

The Fleet Leader stared at the Royal and then said, “If it is no longer here, we could be here for a very long time.” The Royal tilted his head and then nodded. “Why would they send a ship to this desolate star system?”

“This was once the center of our civilization.”

“But it was totally destroyed thousands of years ago.”

“Perhaps they’re trying to find out how it was done so they can do it again.”

“It would be a total waste of their time. Our current technology is far beyond anything in use that far back in time.”

“I don’t have an answer as to why they have a ship here but the evidence is clear that one fired a blaster in this system. It has not gone back through our detection fields at the black hole so it must still be in our galaxy somewhere. Keep looking.”

The Fleet Leader’s monitor went dark and he mumbled, “Easy for you to say.” He looked at his monitor and pressed his communicator, “Have all of the ships that just arrived to start moving through the asteroid belt.” His Communications Leader looked up at him in dismay and he said, “I know. Just do it.”

• • •

“Admiral, we need to start moving.”

“Why, Poul?”

“All of the Carand Warships that just arrived are being sent into the asteroid belt to start scanning. Some will be arriving close to us in less than an hour.”

Gabe activated his helmet’s communicator, “Times up. Ali, go to the blaster and Gabby grab the cable.”

“What’s going on?”

“Gabby, the Carand are sending thousands of warships into the asteroid belt to start scanning. They will arrive here in less than an hour. Poul have you determined the path of our exit?”

“It’s fluid, Gabe. Their ships are moving around so much that it changes constantly.”

“So what do we do?”

“We pull the sled on board and I select the best route available at that moment.”

“You’re starting to frighten me, Poul.”

“There’s no help for it. If those warships move in around us, they’ll instantly detect the blaster energy and open fire. Our escape depends on them having to search for the site of the blaster.”

Gabe took a deep breath and said over his communicator, “Is everyone ready?”

Ali said, “Yes, Admiral.”

“I am too, Gabe.”

“Alright, on my mark. In five, four, three, two, one, MARK!!”

Ali pulled the trigger on the portable blaster and the brilliant beam hit the bow of the scout and disintegrated it. He released the trigger and ran toward the scout. Gabby arrived a moment ahead of him and she snapped the hook in place. The cable went taunt and the sled flew out of the scout before Ali arrived. He lept at the sled and Gabby reached out and grabbed his hand as the sled flashed toward the ship’s landing bay. She almost lost him but she managed to keep her grip on his glove. She put her feet out in front of the sled as it went into the landing bay and stopped it from crashing into the wall. Thank creation that the gravity sled reduced the mass to less than a few ounces. She released her grip on Ali’s glove as he rolled off the sled and grabbed the heat blanket. He righted himself as Gabby threw him a tie down strap and they began anchoring the sled to the deck.

Gabe watched the sled and felt his heart go into his throat as Ali almost arrived too late. He blew out a breath as Gabby grabbed his glove and pulled him on the sled. He felt a vibration and saw the rear of the Eyes rise toward the cavern’s ceiling. An instant later, the eight blasters fired and the monitor went dark from the brilliance.

• • •

The Carand Warship Leader yelled, “MOVE TO THAT ASTEROID!” Twenty Carand Warships rushed toward the large asteroid a thousand miles away and targeted it with their beams. The warships watched as a brilliant beam burst out of the asteroid followed by a huge energy reading. They opened fire on what must have been an enemy ship coming out of the asteroid.

• • •

The Prophet’s Eyes blew out of the asteroid and, an instant later, disappeared. The hundreds of thousands of warships detected the discharge of the escaping vessel’s thrusters for a brief moment and then it was gone from their scanners. The speed they recorded was impossible. It was far faster than any of the previous enemy vessels they had detected.

• • •

The Fleet Royal dreaded making the call but knew there was no avoiding it. He pressed the button and saw a member of the Royal Family appear on his display. “I understand that you allowed one of those strange ships to escape.”

The Royal knew his life was on the line, “Sire, the blaster we detected ten days ago was used by this ship to tunnel into an asteroid in this star system.”

“Why did it do that?”

“Sire, I had the asteroid carefully taken apart and we discovered a small Belan Scoutship inside.”

The Royal’s eyes were wide, “WHAT?”

The Royal saw that his chance of making it out of this alive went up. The Royal’s attention was taken away from blaming him for the escape. “It appears that scout was inside the asteroid ten thousand years ago when we exterminated the Belan. It has remained there since that time.” The Royal’s eyes went to slits and the Fleet Royal quickly said, “Upon examining the ship, we determined that the ship’s computer and stardrive were removed.”

“That’s preposterous. Why would a civilization with such an advanced technology need the computer and stardrive from an ancient ship? Are you sure it wasn’t removed earlier?”

“I’m sure, Sire. It was removed over the last nine days.”

“How did that new enemy know that ship was there?”

“Sire, I have no way of knowing but it’s absolutely clear it went there to collect the computer and stardrive.”

“Do we have one of the Belan Warships?”

“No, Sire. I checked with all of our planets and they were all destroyed and their metals used nine thousand years ago. None of them remain. This scout escaped destruction because it was hidden inside that asteroid.”

“I want all the other large asteroids examined to see if there is another Belan Ship in that system. There has to be something extremely important on that ship for them to go to this effort to collect it.”

“I’ll order them searched now. Sire, you should also know that the enemy ship that escaped was traveling at a speed more than three times faster than the other vessels we detected in the past.” The Royal stared at the Fleet Royal as he said, “It disappeared before any of my warships could press their firing buttons. It disappeared in less than a hundredth of second.”

The Royal continued to stare at him and after a minute said, “Inform me of what your search of the asteroids turns up.”

“Yes, Sire.” The Fleet Royal knew there was going to be grumbling in the fleets but he was still alive and he didn’t care. He issued the orders and left the star system. He had to discuss what was going on with the Lead Scientist. This just didn’t make any sense. Why would an advanced civilization want the computer and stardrive from an ancient warship?

• • •

The High Royal leaned back and turned off his communicator. He looked to his right and saw the Highest Royal looking at him, “Should I have ordered his execution, Father?”

“Do you see any fault in his actions?”

“He didn’t succeed in destroying that enemy vessel.”

“Would anyone else have been successful in accomplishing that?” The High Royal thought for a moment as his father said, “You have to ask the question of what we’d get in his place if he were executed.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Do you remember the last Fleet Leader?” The High Royal nodded. “If he was still commanding our fleets, he would have contacted us before he made any orders, or immediately after something was discovered, or if he had a stupid question…”

The High Royal was nodding and said, “I forgot what a pest he was.”

The Highest Royal nodded, “At least this one collects all the available information before contacting us and isn’t afraid of issuing orders without bothering us. Notice that his report was complete and easily understandable. Before I replace him he’ll have to make a real mistake and so far, I don’t think that’s happened.” The High Royal nodded and had to agree with his father.

• • •

The Fleet Royal went to the asteroid and took the portal down to the lower levels. Janek was waiting for him and he handed a computer block to the scientist. Janek played the recording and watched it on the wall monitor. After the recording ended, the Royal looked at Janek, “Why would they want the computer and stardrive from an ancient Belan Warship?”

“That’s not the most pressing question.”

“Oh?”

“How did they know it was there?”

The Royal stared at Janek and shook his head, “I have no idea.”

Janek smiled, “Do you remember me telling you when we were packing up to move here that there is a record of our warships chasing an enemy ship that was forced to enter the event horizon of the black hole.” The Royal nodded. “Did I mention at the time that the vessel our ships was chasing was a Belan Warship?”

The Royal’s eyes went wide, “No you did not!”

Janek tilted his head and laughed, “Well, it appears that ship survived and came back here to remove the computer and star drive from that ship you found inside the asteroid.”

“How do you know it was that particular ship?”

“It had to be that one or one that had a copy of its data.”

The Royal’s tail twitched, “Why would an advanced civilization want the insides of an ancient warship?”

“Sire, they may not be as nearly advanced as you think.”

The Royal laughed, “Our warships are no match for them.”

“That’s not because of advanced technology but because their weapons use anti-matter. However, that has probably changed now.”

“Why do you say that?”

What do you think they were doing for the ten days you couldn’t find them? They were making modifications to their ship and the result was the speed at which it fled. They’ve found a use for ancient Belan technology that will make them much more dangerous.” Janek paused and then smiled, “I find it amusing that they used a similar way to hide as we did on our own asteroid.”

“They haven’t invaded.”

Janek’s smile disappeared, “I know and that worries me. They should have by now.”

“What do you think that means?”

“I don’t know but it can’t be good. Just make sure you aren’t followed when you come here.”

“What are you going to do?”

“We’ve build a stardrive large enough to move this asteroid. If anything dangerous happens, we’re moving the asteroid to another location that even the High Royals don’t know about. If that happens, you’ll need to be here.”

The Royal stared at him and nodded in agreement.

• • •

Gabe saw the Carand Galaxy growing smaller in the forward monitor and looked up with his brow furrowed, “Poul, how did you manage to escape that fast?”

“My computational ability has been greatly improved with the addition of Ali’s computer.”

“We need to go to that galaxy that the Black Ships are stripping.”

“I assumed as much and I’m headed that way now.”

“How long before we arrive?”

“Less than fifteen hours.”

Gabe looked at Ali, “I think we need you more than the computer and stardrive.”

“Why is that?”

“Because it will revolutionize our armor and warships. If we can find a way to integrate this stardrive into our warships, they will have the speed of this vessel.” Gabe turned to Gabby, “Commodore Bartoli, activate your thought recorder and be prepared to listen to the Black Ships when we arrive.”

Gabby looked at him, “Why don’t you just use the one you have?” Gabe smiled and Gabby suddenly realized she had blundered.

“How do you know I possess one, Commodore?”

Gabby looked very uncomfortable but quickly said, “Logic says that you would have one.”

“No it doesn’t.” Gabby stared at him in silence and Gabe continued, “You know how I tried to persuade you not to accept one. Logic would say that I wouldn’t do what I was asking you not to do. The only logical way for you to know I have one is that you’ve seen you’re unable to record my thoughts.”

Ali listened to the exchange and looked puzzled, “What are you talking about?”

Gabe looked at him, “Commodore Bartoli has been recording our thoughts on this mission.”

“WHAT?”

“She persuaded a Bosrean who went on our last mission to give her a thought recorder. I ordered her not to use it on this ship but it’s apparent she violated that order.” Gabe looked at Gabby, “Isn’t that right, Commodore?”

Gabby blew out a breath, “I’ve used it on this mission. I decided that it was a way for me to learn how to improve doing my job.”

Ali looked at her, “YOU’VE BEEN RECORDING MY THOUGHTS!?”

“What of it?”

“You’ve violated my privacy in the worst possible way! You’re incredibly despicable!”

Gabby’s expression showed her defiance as Gabe said, “How would you like it if I recorded your thoughts and shared them with Ali?” Gabby’s head jerked around and Gabe said, “You haven’t thought anything you wouldn’t want me to know have you?”

Gabby’s expression slowly changed and her defiance faded, “I wouldn’t want you to see what I’ve been thinking.”

“But you feel its fine for you to violate our privacy. You knew I had a thought recorder because yours was being blocked. You violated my orders.”

Gabby sighed and shrugged, “You didn’t actually order me, Sir.”

“YES I DID!”

“Actually, you didn’t, Gabe.”

“What do you mean, Poul!?”