Probe Predators (6 page)

“What now?”

“Use the keyboard and type in D,D, I, V, dash, dash, dash, Live for the Union.”

Denise smiled, “Who selected this code?”

“I did.”

Denise stared at him and then looked at the lights flashing over the ten vaults as an alarm sounded. The force fields disappeared, the alarm stopped, and the lights above the vaults turned green. She turned to him and said, “Marilyn, I will not be changing this code until something happens to Trip. He should have access to the vaults.”

“Order accepted, Caretaker.”

Dense looked at Trip, “Why did you choose Dee’s birthday as the activation code?”

Trip stared at Denise and sighed, “I’d rather not say. I need to go and complete my training. Good luck and please have Marilyn update you on what’s coming.”

Denise stared at Trip and said after a moment, “I will.” Trip nodded and shuffled over to the elevator. Andrew was inside and said, “May I be of assistance, Sire?” Trip shook his head and then nodded.

Denise watched the elevator door close and said, “Why does he shake his head at Andrew and then nod?”

“Andrew always addresses him as Sire and he knows Trip hates it. Trip shakes his head to let Andrew know.”

“Does he know?”

“Of course, but he will not allow Trip to ignore his standing in the Genetic Ranking. Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

“No Marilyn.”

“Why did you say your name was Denise when everyone who knows you calls you Dee?”

Dee sat in the chair and said, “I’d rather not say.”

“I suspect you and Trip have the same reason.”

Marilyn’s comment startled Dee as she stared at the ten vaults.

T
rip jumped in to the site where Cole and Andi had been practicing maneuvers and Cole said, “Well look who’s here! Are you ready to learn some lessons from your old pilot?”

“Cole, I was always too drunk to fly anything.”

“I know and I’ve got to say that detox has done wonders for you.”

Andi laughed, “You do look a mite healthier.”

“One tends to forget drinking when suffering from the effects of high G’s.”

“Oh, you’ve been practicing behind our backs? We’ll try to go easy on you and not hold it against you.”

“So how do the two of you want to handle this?”

“Well, since you had Andi’s father fired, she should have the first shot at ya.”

“Cole, you know he’s been reinstated.”

“Even so…you deserve the first shot, Andi.”

Trip smiled, “Let’s do it this way, Why don’t the two of you try to get a shot off at me.”

“What?”

“I’m not going to try and fire; I’ll simply attempt to evade you.”

“Come on, Trip. I’ve been kidding around; you don’t have a chance against the two of us.”

“Then the exercise will end quickly and then one of you can try it. We’re going to have to learn how to evade multiple ships…or do you think we’ll only have to face one ship at a time?”

Cole looked at Andi on his display and shrugged, “He does make a good point. I would hope our ships are superior to those we have to face off against.”

Trip said, “Those ships in M87 got a shot off.”

Andi winced, “I think that’s a good suggestion. What are the rules?”

“No use of jump drives.” Trip saw Cole’s expression, “I know one of our best maneuvers is to go into null space and allow an enemy to fly by. However, anyone can pull that off. We need to be able to evade when null space is filled with enemy ships waiting to bump us back into normal space.”

Cole started nodding, “You’re making some good points. We’ll do it your way; Andi and I will come in at combat speed and attempt to get a lock on you with our missile or beam computer.”

“I’m accelerating to cruise speed. I’ll attempt to react when I detect your approach.”

“You don’t want a warning when we start?”

“Would an enemy give you one?”

Cole shrugged and the display went dark. Trip watched their two Needles jump away and he linked with Ian, “Are you ready for this?”

“I’ll see them coming and have time to respond. Buckle in and we’re going to use the first maneuver to go over the top.”

“I do hope you’re going to veer away from their approach vectors.”

“Of course, and that’s what they’ll be anticipating.”

“Here they come.”

• • •

Andi and Cole roared in and saw Ian accelerate to combat speed. They poured on the power and closed the gap on Trip instantly as he veered right breaking away from their line of approach. Suddenly, Ian flashed vertical and then made a tight turn over the top of their ships. Cole shook his head and gritted his teeth. His needle made the turn and Cole lost consciousness. Andi stopped the high G maneuver before she blacked out and saw Ian directly behind her. She shook her head and attempted to evade but couldn’t shake Trip from behind her ship. She knew if it had been a real fight, she and Cole would both be dead. “Enough! You win. Cole, are you alright?”

Cole appeared on the display shaking his head, “I think so; Jack, why did you make such a severe turn?”

Cole’s computer said, “It was the only way to prevent him from coming up behind you and getting a lock.”

“Trip, how did you make that turn?”

“I went cold turkey on the G training.”

Cole shook his head, “I don’t know how you survived that.”

“You will shortly.”

“Oh?”

“Both of you will start the maximum G training. You’ll want to die for a couple of days but you’ll come out of it with a far better ability of how to use your ship. I really want the two of you to do this.”

Andi looked at Cole, “We’ll suffer together.”

“I’ve notified the Mansion that you will be going there at the completion of each day’s training sessions and the staff will take care of you until you’re acclimated.”

Cole looked at Trip, “How bad is it?”

“It won’t be as bad on you; you’ve been training and are in better condition to handle it. I suspect you’ll be ready in two days instead of four.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“It’s a level eight hangover.”

“Oh crap!!”

Andi looked at Cole, “What’s a level eight?”

“There isn’t one. Level five is the highest rating we’ve ever given.”

Andi laughed, “It appears the levels have been increased.”

“Which accounts for my, ‘oh crap’.”

“Ian, send them the program you used to get me ready.”

“Done.”

“Contact me when you’re able to walk.”

Andi and Cole groaned.

• • •

The Sovereign of the Green Civilization looked at the Queen of the Union on his display and wondered what trickery she was up to. “It’s good to hear from you, Your Majesty.”

“You can dispense with the niceties and honorifics. Your lie is obvious and I didn’t contact you to be nice.”

The Sovereign kept his expression neutral and said, “Go on.”

“Good; at least you aren’t being openly deceptive. I think that was one of the things that made my ancestors accept your civilization as a friend.” The Sovereign tried not to flinch but allowed a small one to show. “The truth hurts; doesn’t it?”

“Did you call me to insult me or is there a point to this?”

“You ancestor swore to always be a friend of the Union and come to our defense if he was ever needed. I know you’re building up your forces to attack the Union.”

The Sovereign forced his expression to reveal nothing. He knew this witch would see any clue given to her. “Where did you come up with this fantasy?”

“You don’t need to deny it. I just want to make sure you’re aware that we know. I would also suggest you go back and take a look at your history to see what happened to those that tried to threaten us.”

“As you just said, that’s ancient history.”

“And those that don’t know their history will repeat it. You should know that our military is on full alert and our ship production has been started at full capacity.”

The Sovereign stared at the Queen and said, “Let’s just assume, for the moment, that what you say is true, even though it isn’t; why would you tell me this? It would only make someone intending aggression attack much sooner.”

Angela smiled at the Sovereign and the Sovereign thought her smile was the most wicked expression he had ever seen. “I think you are going to be much too busy to worry about attacking us. We’re not building new ships to deal with your pitiful fleets.”

“Oh!”

“I’m not saying one of our ships violated your borders recently; I’m just saying that if one did, it would have probably witnessed something coming from thousands of years in your past.”

“What are you talking about!?!”

“History, Sovereign; something you casually sweep away as being meaningless. I’m sure your ships wondered what all of those objects moving faster than light they destroyed were doing.” The Sovereign did flinch at that remark. “My ancestors managed to disable one of them more than two thousand years ago and we just recently determined what they were designed to do. We’re building ships to take on the winner of your coming war with the Family’s that were sent a distress message along with the location of the ones that killed them. As I recall, we carried the load of that particular war and suffered the highest losses to defend your miserable galaxy. Your treacherous behavior now, after what we did for you, is blasphemous and you deserve what’s coming. Your ancestors would feel deep shame at your actions. I do hope you survive without us.” The Sovereign’s eyes were wide and his fear was overwhelming. “I’ve sent you a copy of the probe’s transmissions. They should make for a good night time story…if you’re in to nightmares.”

The Sovereign’s display went dark and the translation of the probe’s message began playing. He pulled up the coordinates the probe sent and saw they were in the middle of his civilization. He knew that even two thousand years ago, the Family knew his civilization was the most powerful. He began pressing buttons on his panel and faces began appearing on his bank of displays. They wondered what had frightened the Sovereign so much. Soon the message went out and the word spread through M87 like wildfire; the Families were coming.

• • •

Angela looked at Moe, “Well?”

“I just received a message that the combined fleet has been disbanded and all of the principals have recalled their fleets. It appears the agreements made between them have fallen apart. I suspect it will take some time before they assemble that many ships again. What made you think they were going to attack this soon?”

“Six hundred ships going after Trip.”

There was a moment of silence and Moe said, “You’re right.”

“There is no way they could have that many ships around the entire galaxy. The numbers needed to make that happen would be unimaginable. If they weren’t all around the galaxy, they had to be congregating on the side closest to the Union.”

“Angela, I’m a computer and missed this; how are you able to see this?”

Angela paused and said, “I’ve been deceiving you from the beginning.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t trust you; you attempted to take control of the Union.”

“I understand; that wasn’t the best thing to do. It took Dee and Drey to get me to see it.”

“I am able to understand your communications.”

“I would hope so; I pride myself on my communication skills.”

“That’s not what I mean. I can understand your flashes.”

There was a long pause and Angela saw the Obelisk flash in the top right corner, “Yes, I can see you don’t believe it.” Fast flashes appeared at the bottom left corner and Angela sighed, “I’ve been able to do this from the beginning.”

“Well I am surprised.” Angela raised her eyebrows and lowered them. “This really doesn’t change anything; it just makes things easier.”

“I suppose.”

“This does allow me to say things that won’t be heard.”

Angela smiled, “I suppose that is a good thing.”

“You meant something else when you said you were deceiving me.”

Angela sighed, “You know Trip and I are direct descendants from the heroes.”

“Yes; his mother was your sister.”

“I possess Dee Montgomery’s ability to see things.”

“You’re kidding me?”

“How would one, as you say, kid a computer?”

“You saw what the attack on Trip meant?”

“I did.”

“What about Trip; what do you sense?”

“His spirit has been released and it’s not Ian’s.”

“Who?”

“The one whose name is dark. I sense a darkness in him that is dangerous.”

“We might need that darkness.”

“The Union will probably need it but he could leave the universe filled with death on an unimaginable scale. Some victories are not worth the price paid to achieve them.”

“Victory is victory.”

“Not if you lose your soul getting it.”

“I don’t have a soul; that is not something that would cause me to pause.”

“I don’t know that you’re right about that; however, he does and I worry he may lose it as his darker side emerges.”

“What bothers you about that?”

“The Union is a reflection of its Leadership. We can’t lose ourselves to what he becomes. He has refused to lead but the Union watches his every move and adores who, and what, he is.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“I am at the moment.”

Lights flashed in the giant block and Angela said, “You’re right; sometimes things do change.”

• • •

Cole and Andi arrived at Euclid and found Trip waiting for them. Cole smiled, “What’s up?”

“The Queen has requested we make a visit to another civilization.”

“Which one?’

“The Renegades.” Andi and Cole were silenced by his answer. “I know it’s been centuries since we’ve visited but the current situation calls for contact to be made.”

“I thought we released them from their restrictions?”

“The King did that over two hundred years ago. They can choose their own destiny and not worry about the Union intruding.”

“I expect they won’t look at us as neighbors.”

“No, Andi, I don’t think they will.”

Cole shook his head, “I’ve never understood why the King gave them all of our advanced technology when he tore up the agreement with them.”