Probe Predators (7 page)

“I suspect he worried about the probes that the Family launched in M87 and wanted to make sure they could defend themselves if anything happened.”

“Was he certain they would never come after the Union bent on revenge?”

“He must have been and second guessing him centuries later won’t do us any good. We have to make the effort and I want you to understand that the order of the day is run first, everything else second. Did you go and have your ships modified from training to live weapon loads?”

Andi nodded, “They even installed the new Pegs.”

“I do not want them used under any circumstances. That development must remain secret.”

“I would expect the String Blasters would demand more secrecy.”

“No, Cole. The Pegs are much more dangerous.”

“If you say so.”

“Have you seen a Peg demonstration?”

“Uhh…no.”

“I have. Trust me on this one; we don’t want that particular technology revealed unless the survival of the Union is at stake.”

“You’re the boss.”

“I’m sending you the coordinates Moe gave me and we’re going to leave our force fields off and move in at a sedate speed.” Trip looked up, “Ian, are Jack and Geli locked in to your jump system?”

“They are now.”

“Don’t hesitate to get us out of there.”

“Would you mind if I broadcast who we are on a frequency that Moe says they once used.”

“By all means, Ian; I just hope they’re willing to listen. You might simply say we wish to speak to the Senior Grandfather about an urgent matter.”

“I’ll add, ‘Please don’t hurt us.’”

Trip smiled, “I’d rather you leave that out.”

“You big sissy.”

“Shut up, Jack. You want to do this alone?”

“No, that’s alright.”

“I thought so.”

Trip shook his head and was amazed that Jack and Ian spoke to each other in the same manner he and Cole used. Well, maybe not too surprised; after all, they were a product of their minds. “We’ll be jumping in ten seconds; do you have any questions?” Trip’s question was greeted with silence, so Trip reached forward and pressed the jump button.

• • •

The three small ships appeared in open space and saw huge derelicts of star ships floating in empty space. They looked like they had been stripped of their hulls and most of the materials inside. Even large sections of their support beams were missing. Trip stared at them and said, “Ian, what caused this?”

“My scanners indicate that these giant ships were deliberately stripped of their material.”

Andi said, “That means they used it to build something else.”

Trip put his hand back on the jump button and eased the thrusters forward. The three ships began moving toward a distant planet. They moved through the derelicts for hours and Ian told him that there were millions of dead ships floating in the system.

They cleared the massive debris field and moved into clear space and the planet glowed in the distance. “I’m starting the broadcast.”

Andi said, “They already know we’re here.”

Trip looked at his scanner display and saw six small vessels moving at high speed away from the planet directly toward them. Their speed was incredible and Trip knew the Needles might not be fast enough to out run them. “Ian, have you got a reading on their force fields?”

“Yes, they’re stronger than any in my data banks.”

“How do they compare to ours?”

“I can’t tell without taking a shot at them and you told me to behave.”

“Has there been any response to your broadcast?”

“Not yet.”

“I’m getting us out of here if they come closer than a hundred miles.”

“Two hundred sounds better to me.”

Trip heard, “You big sissy,” and laughed. The six small ships leaped forward at an even faster velocity and Trip began to put pressure on the jump button. “Break off your attack, these ships are our friends.”

The six small ships veered away and Trip blew out a sigh of relief and heard, “It’s been a long time since you have graced us with a visit.”

“We never really determined how you viewed us. We worried that you might have considered us as enemies.”

“My ancestor swore that he would never attack you and would come to your defense if needed. His promise binds us all.”

“We’ve seen former friends abandon their promises.”

“Then they were never friends in the first place.”

“Your wisdom is remarkable; I know you are right.”

“You may come to the planet and visit me on my ship.”

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

“You’re welcome, Child.”

“Cole, I want you and Andi to remain here.”

“There’s no way I’ll allow you to go in there alone.”

“Cole, I need you to make sure Andi is safe.”

Cole’s expression was stubborn but after a moment he said, “Don’t think I won’t use the Pegs if something happens to you.”

Trip sighed, “Andi, please help him see the long view.”

“I’m more concerned with the short view. Either we are a team or we need to end this right now.”

Trip saw she was serious. “Ian?”

“If none of us make it back, the message will be understood by the Union. No one is needed to deliver it.”

“Ok, we’re all in this together. From this day forward we will all look after each other’s safety. Stay with me.”

Cole shook his head, “What choice do we have? We’re locked in to your drive unit.”

“Ian, disable the lock. You now have the freedom to do what you deem necessary; just stay close.”

“Aye, aye, Sir.”

Trip rolled his eyes and thought of Andrew; he moved the Needle toward the planet

T
hey moved in closer to the planet and fifty of the small craft moved in and led them toward a giant vessel hanging in orbit. “Trip, that is a fully operational model of the ships we saw stripped in the outer system.”

“I recognize it from the recordings in the Vaults, Ian. It appears they have changed their behaviors.”

“Help me understand how you made that determination.”

“The only purpose of building ships that large is so that massive loads could be moved from a planet and stored. If you don’t require that to survive, smaller ships are more economical to build and offer a better defense.”

“That’s why the Union’s ships have always been small.”

“Yes; a force field is weakened with the square of the area it has to protect.”

“It’s fortunate the new reactors don’t require a large space.”

“That’s the only way we could build a ship this small and be more powerful than a ship a hundred times its size.”

The panel activated and Trip heard, “I’m sending you a shuttle to bring you to my ship. Do you have the necessary apparatus to support your atmosphere?”

“I do. Give me a moment to put it on.” Trip went to the locker at the rear of the small bridge and buckled a belt around his waist. He pressed the blue activate button and a field appeared around him and oxygen began filling it. He checked the translator attached to the belt and saw it included the Renegade’s language. He went to the portal in the hull and raised it. The shuttle had already docked and he stepped out into the small white ship.

• • •

“Andi, I never knew he had this level of bravery. I’m the one that usually had to step in and defend him.”

“I suspect he didn’t know it either, Cole.”

“He’s changing.”

“Do you still recognize him?”

“Yes, but something’s happening.”

“I suspect he’s becoming what has always been locked up inside him. I just worry which ancestor he’ll mimic.”

“I’m sorry, you’ve lost me.”

“The Dark Officer is one of his forefathers.” Cole stared at Andi on his display and felt a small fear enter his heart.

• • •

Trip was amazed by the Family member that greeted him. It looked like a giant amoeba with eyestalks. It constantly changed shape as it moved, “Grandfather is waiting for you. It’s really good to see one of your species again after all these years.”

“Thank you for your hospitality. I look forward to meeting your family.”

Trip walked down the long corridors of the giant vessel and saw that there were not many of the almond colored beings on board. He was taken to a tube and entered a small cart that shot through the ship and came to a stop after a brief minute ride. He stepped out and went up four steps to a huge room with a single being sitting in a chair in the middle of the room. The almond colored being moved out of its chair and met him, “It’s been a long time.”

“Probably longer than it should have been. My people have a fear of your species.”

The amoeba shaped creature turned and moved toward the chair in the center of the room and Trip walked beside it, “I suppose many civilizations have nothing but fear and dread when my species is mentioned.”

“You do have a history.”

The being sat in his chair and raised a part of his body. Another Family Member rushed in with another chair and placed it in front of the Grandfather’s chair, “Thank you, Child.”

“You’re welcome, Grandfather.” The smaller amoeba left the room and the Grandfather turned six of its eye stalks to Trip, “I suppose you’re here because of the probe’s broadcast.”

“You heard it.”

“I did.”

“Can you tell me what you expect to happen now?”

“I expect that large ball galaxy will be visited by another Family or two.”

“You never told us how many Families there are out there.”

“Not as many as you might think. When we broke away from our Family, there were about ten thousand still harvesting galaxies.” Trip was shocked by the answer and the being saw it, “I don’t expect an immediate response from the Families. They will have to discuss if they are willing to face whatever danger is here that killed an entire Family.”

Trip stared at the Grandfather and after a moment said, “There’s something else that has you bothered.”

“I’m surprised you can read my emotions so well. Yes there is another danger that might appear.”

Trip felt fear start seeping into his soul, “What is that?”

The Almond being turned three of his eyestalks and looked out of the huge view port at the planet rotating below his ship. It blew out atmosphere from its skin and then turned all its eyestalks to Trip, “I was greatly surprised that the Senior Grandfather launched those probes. I guess he really didn’t care what would result from his actions.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“There is an advanced civilization that hears our distress transmissions and goes to the source of them. They’ve been killing my species for more than eight thousand years and they really like the way we taste.” Trip could only stare at the Grandfather. “We’ve never learned if they could translate the broadcasts but they would often show up when a Family called for assistance and intervene in a rather violent fashion. The Family that sent the transmission would be eliminated rather quickly and then they would wait to see if another Family would arrive.”

“And if one did?”

“They would have all they could eat.”

“And if one didn’t?”

“They still had all they could eat.”

“They would attack the civilization that had defeated the first Family.” The Grandfather’s eyes gave a perfect imitation of a shrug. “Just how advanced was this civilization?”

“The Families could not defeat their ships and you know how powerful our ships were.”

“We could defeat your ships.”

The Grandfather stared at Trip for a long moment and then said, “I’ve looked at the data we’ve collected on them and I really think it’s too close to call. They have orange colored ships that are slightly larger than the one you’re on now.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m not really sure. I’ve discussed it with my Juniors and they are split on whether to run or stay and hide. Fortunately, your original Rulers allowed us to go quite a long distance from your Union. We think they won’t be able to find us.”

“You believe your current technology won’t stand up to them?” The Grandfather shrugged again. Trip thought for a moment and shook his head, “And they’re two thousand more years advanced than they were?”

“That’s what worries us. They are an aggressive species and nothing causes technological advances like continuous war.”

“And we’ve been at peace the entire time.” The Grandfather shrugged a third time. “Do you have any clue as to whether or not they can translate your broadcasts?”

“Did you?” Trip nodded. “Then I suspect they can as well. And that’s what really shocked me when the former Senior launched his probes. I always knew he was an arrogant, selfish being but this took it to an entirely new level. He was deliberately baiting another Family knowing the Threshers would hear the message. He was so selfish, he didn’t care.”

“Under the conditions you just described, another Family will probably not come.”

“That’s just it; we are all sworn to go to another Family’s aid when called. I believe a Family will come. And I believe the Threshers will send a ship to wait for their arrival. The ensuing fight will be unimaginable for the civilizations where they arrive.”

“I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.”

“The Threshers will not just limit their attacks to the Family. Their ferocity will spill over and millions of planets will be left burning.”

“Why would they attack others?”

“To prevent the Family from gathering enough food to continue the fight. They want to force the Family to flee and they will follow their ships and kill them all. The Families have agreed that if any of them encounter a Thresher Fleet they will not lead that Fleet to other Families; they will fight and die where they’re found.”

“They could just flee to open space.”

“And they would all be followed and consumed. Our ships cannot escape their detection devices. It would be a complete waste of effort to try.”

“How will the Families decide who will come?”

“There will be a death drawing. Whichever family pulls an orange ball from a container will be charged to go. They know what will be awaiting them.”

“And they’ll still come?”

“The Families have no choice but to send a Family to answer the distress call. The Senior knew all this and still launched his probes, when he knew his Family was dead. I hope his soul burns forever.”