Probe Predators (10 page)

Trip went back and sat down between Dee and Cole. Angela saw Dee staring at her and decided she was going to have to face the music sometime and now was a good a time as any, “I’m surprised to see you here, Denise.”

“You should be; you’ve done everything in your power to make sure Trip and I would not come into contact.”

Trip’s eyes immediately narrowed and he looked from Dee to Angela. Angela said, “I do trust that you are now able to see why.”

Dee actually smiled, “Now that I didn’t expect.”

Trip said, “Expect what?”

“An acknowledgment of what we have in common.”

“Do you understand?”

Dee stared at Angela, looked at Trip’s expression, and turned back to the Queen, “Yes, I suppose I do.”

“What is she talking about?”

“Trip, she sees that you could become a real danger to the Union; allowing you and me to meet would have only increased the possibility of it.”

Cole looked at Andi and saw her concern. He shook his head and mouthed, “Later.” Andi nodded and turned back to the conversation.

Trip stared at Dee and then turned to his Aunt, “Would you care to tell me what this is all about?”

“Yes, I would care and I’m not going to discuss it with you.”

Trip’s eyes narrowed and everyone in the room saw the menace in them. Andi was amazed at the difference from what Trip was just three weeks earlier. She shook her head and Cole put his hand on her arm and shook his head.

“Why are you so reluctant to be honest with me?”

Angela sighed and said, “Trip, I love you like you are my own child; however, you can’t reason with an addict. We will discuss this later but now is not the time.”

Trip felt Dee’s hand on his arm and he tore his vision from the Queen to Dee and saw her nodding. He would never represent a danger to the Union. He loved it more than life itself and felt his aunt was being ridiculous. Dee leaned close and said, “No she isn’t.” Trip’s eyes went wide and Dee whispered, “Yes, I can hear your thoughts. Now put this aside for the moment and let’s get something done.” Trip stared at her and then slowly nodded.

Angela watched the exchange between Trip and Dee and began to wonder if there might be hope. She kept her expression neutral; it was just too early to tell. Other participants began filing into the room and Angela turned to accept their bows and greet them.

Cole felt Andi jump up and run over to her father, who gave her a big hug, “It’s good to see you, Dad.”

“I’ve missed having you around. I understand you’ve been involved in what’s been happening.”

“I have.”

“Don’t look sorry; I’m proud that you were chosen. I’m sorry for disappointing you.”

Andi hugged her father again and whispered in his ear, “That’s history; let’s make a better future.”

Kyle smiled and said, “Shall we.”

Andi went back to her chair and Cole leaned over, “Is everything alright?” Andi nodded and squeezed his hand. Cole smiled and turned back to see who was arriving. When he saw Victor come in, he said, “Uh oh.” Andi turned to see who he was looking at and blew out a breath. This spelled trouble.

Angela saw Victor arrive and smiled. She looked forward to the head-to-head that was undoubtedly going to happen.

• • •

The conference table was finally full and Angela looked at the attendees, “I want to welcome Kragon and thank him for coming here to meet with us. He is the Commander of all the Kilper Military Forces and we welcome his input into what we’re discussing. Please notify the First Councilor that I’ll be contacting him directly soon after we formulate a plan on what we should do.”

Kragon bowed his head and said, “I will, Your Majesty.”

Angela turned her attention to the table and said, “I trust all of you have seen the information that’s been gathered and have had time for your minds to analyze the implications?” Everyone nodded. Angela looked at Kyle and said, “Admiral, do you have any recommendations to put before us?”

“I have been in contact with Kragon and our ship building facilities are now operating at full capacity. We have a need for volunteers to join the Union’s Military to fly the ships we’re building.”

“How is the training of the existing pilots going?”

“They have completed the acclimation process to high G maneuvers and are now working on individual, dual, and wing maneuvers. I’ll have them start working on major fleet maneuvers once they master the small group tactics.”

“Do you have a feel for where they are?”

“They’re not as good as the veterans that survived the last war but they’re getting better. I suspect actual combat will complete their skill sets.”

“What would you recommend we do with our fleets?”

Kyle paused and shook his head, “You know I’ve always erred on the side of caution; I really don’t feel that is called for in our current situation.”

Victor spoke up, “What do you mean?”

Angela didn’t like Victor’s interruption but she decided to allow him to hang himself without intervention.

“I don’t believe we can wait on this war to come to us.”

The Head Scientist shook his head interrupted, “We shouldn’t involve our forces with what happens in M87. We can just wait and whoever wins that conflict will be weakened and make it easier for us to prevail.”

Victor smiled, “Exactly.”

The conference became a back and forth of comments from both sides of the issue. Victor always interrupted those that spoke out to not wait and Angela leaned back in her chair and watched the proceedings with a small smile. After two hours Dee sighed loudly and the attendees all looked at her. She looked at Angela and said, “How long are you going to allow this stupidity to continue?” Cole looked around and saw many at the table were shocked by her comment.

Angela looked at Dee and shook her head, “You are going to have to learn patience, Child. I’ve always enjoyed watching others act like idiots; you can’t buy that kind of entertainment.”

Victor looked at Angela and said, “Just what do you mean?”

“We’re going to the defense of M87.”

“The hell you say; I’ll not allow it.”

Angela smiled, “I expect them to contact me shortly and ask for our assistance. If they don’t, I’ll contact them and offer it.”

Victor was beside himself with anger, “Are you that incredibly stupid!?!”

Trip was out of his chair faster than anyone could see. He moved behind Victor and spun his chair; he grabbed the front of Victor’s shirt and lifted him off the floor with one arm until he was at eye level. Victor’s feet dangled and he looked into Trip’s eyes and saw he was going to die. Trip’s eyes looked into Victor’s soul and Victor saw Trip decided that he was found lacking. “It was your insistence that M87 be allowed to implement their borders that gave them the courage to attack us. If you don’t possess the strength to defend the Union, you should just end your miserable existence and get out of the way of those of us who do.”

Victor looked into Trip’s eyes and felt unimaginable fear. He had never faced death and now he began to feel what it was. Angela said, “Drey, put him down.”

Trip continued to stare into Victor’s eyes and almost lifted his other arm to break the coward’s neck. He took a small breath and slowly lowered Victor to the floor, maintaining eye contact the entire time. Angela said, “Victor, take a seat.”

Trip slowly went back to his chair and failed to notice everyone at the table was staring wide eyed at him. Victor managed to fall into his chair and he looked at Angela and stammered, “He thre…threaten..threatened me!”

“Yes, I believe he did; now you feel what the rest of us are feeling about the coming attacks in M87.” Angela paused, “Victor, how many Families are out there in the universe?”

Victor was a High Genetic and the part of his brain that absorbed information, sensory perceptions, bits of random data, and then put them all together had been working independently of his conscious mind. It was that part of his brain that collected enough information to tell him that Trip was going to kill him. He had no doubt that without the Queen’s intervention, he would now be dead. However, his conscious mind was in a state of shock and he said, “I don’t know?”

“Then if those Orange Ships are real, how many fleets are out there?”

“I have no idea.”

“So let’s just say for the moment that we follow your isolationist doctrine and we sit back and allow them to fight over M87. Our galaxy’s coordinates were in that probe’s broadcast; so whoever wins comes to our neighborhood and sees what was so interesting about those coordinates and, just as you, we manage to kick their backsides and destroy them all. What happens after that?”

Victor’s analytic portion of his brain finally broke through to his consciousness and he said, “Someone will come and investigate what happened.”

“Now if we managed to stop them in M87, what do you think would happen?”

Victor stared at Angela and said, “Someone would come and investigate there instead.”

“Now, I’m just a simple minded farm girl, but where would you prefer for them to investigate?”

Victor saw it and the pieces of how he had been used and how he had made a huge mistake with M87 became clear. He shook his head and stood up, “Your Majesty, I hereby resign my Royal Title and I will banish myself to my estates and stay out of any future political decisions. I will inform the Royal Council of my decision and tell them I will no longer be a tool for them.”

Angela stared at Victor and said, “You could make a difference now.”

“No, I’ve built my prison; someone else will have to take my place.” Victor looked at Trip, “Thank you for sparing me; I see now I didn’t deserve it.” Trip’s eyes remained slits and he nodded slightly. Victor turned and left the room.

Angela turned to Trip and said, “Drey.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Do you remember what we were discussing earlier?” Trip nodded. “I want you to look at the recording of this meeting tonight and get back to me after you watch it.”

Trip’s head tilted he nodded but then said, “My name is Trip, not Drey.”

“Not anymore. Watch the recording and you’ll see why.”

Trip looked at Dee and heard her sigh and then nod.

Angela turned to Dee, “Do you see what a lack of patience can lead to?”

Dee nodded, “I really didn’t anticipate this happening.”

“Perhaps it’s best it did; however, you should practice patience.” Dee bowed her head and Angela said, “Since you brought this discussion to a close, perhaps you’ll now tell all of us why we have to go and defend M87?”

Trip really had no intention of defending anyone that threatened the Union and wondered what Dee could possibly see that would change his mind. Dee stood and looked at the ceiling; she rolled her eyes and said, “What happens when the Orange Ships arrive?” She waited for a moment and said before anyone could respond, “They will commence the destruction of every planet in M87 that could feed the Family. That means they’ll be attacking every civilization in M87 as well as the Family’s Fleets. Do we want to wait until they show up in the Union to make a determination as to whether or not we can stop them? It may be that meeting them there would lead to a discovery that allows us to meet them on an equal footing. The Neutron Missile used in the last war is an example of just such a weapon. However, like our Queen said, if we manage to somehow win there, the follow up would not happen here in the Union.”

Trip said, “But they were going to attack us.”

“They did attack us last time if you care to remember.” Trip thought for a moment and then slowly nodded. “The tactics we used then are just as applicable today.” Dee looked around the table, “Do any of you see it differently?”

The Head Scientist stared at Dee and said, “You are right; those facts make it clear I was wrong earlier. Without knowing the scope of those coming to M87, we are forced to go there.”

Angela said, “And though it breaks my heart, we are going to have to start an exodus of our populations to the planets we established in other galaxies during the last war. I’ll contact them and let them know what’s going on. We won’t execute that process until an actual enemy vessel arrives in M87.”

Trip nodded, “Going there will allow time to move them.” Angela nodded.

Cole said, “Just how certain are you that M87 will contact you?”

Angela looked at Cole with a twinkle in her eyes and leaned back in her chair, “I’ll tell you what, Cole; I’ll make a small wager with you.”

“What’s that?”

“I’ll wager that they’ll contact me within seven days.”

“What’s the wager?”

“If they don’t, I will knight you and make you a member of the Union’s Royalty.”

“And if they do?”

“I will knight you and make you a member of the Union’s Royalty.”

Cole stared at Angela, “I lose both ways, Your Majesty. I have no desire to become Royalty.”

“Then you shouldn’t have been blessed with your outstanding talents and your courage to go out and defend the Union. Please come forward.”

Cole looked at Andi and saw her smiling. He looked at Trip and saw him almost laughing. He stood and walked to the head of the table. “Please bow.” Cole went down to one knee and lowered his head. Angela placed her hand on Cole’s head and said, “Do you solemnly swear that you will defend and protect the Union even if it costs you your life. Do you swear that you will never do anything that would bring harm to the Union or any of its citizens and do you swear that you will teach the meaning of this promise to your descendants?”

Cole sighed and said, “I do solemnly swear to do so, Your Majesty.”

“Please rise, Cole Montgomery and welcome to our Royal Family.” Cole stood and the first one to rush up to him was Trip who wrapped him up in a bear hug as he lifted him off the floor.

Dee was staring at Andi and saw her pride in what had just happened to Cole. Andi suddenly looked at Dee and saw her staring. They made eye contact and after a moment, Andi slowly nodded. Dee smiled.

Moe said, “Your Majesty, the Sovereign had requested to speak to you.”

Angela looked at Cole and smiled, “Tell him I’ll get back to him later.”

“He requested that I share something with you if you refused to speak with him immediately.”