Pray for the Prey Read online

  “Oh you’re close; just not quite there yet.”

  Jillian rushed around the chair and Chris spun the chair, keeping Dolly between them. Dolly laughed as Jillian came quickly around the other side of the chair and Chris jumped over Dolly’s desk. Hemon smiled as he watched them chase each other around the room. He turned to the main display and knew that things were going to start happening rather quickly.

  • • •

  The Seven Leaders of the Blue Giants were intensely focused on the large table in front of them. They watched as thousands of their huge battleships attacked the three lines of incoming Violet Ships. They had managed to kill a thousand of the invader’s ships during the initial contact, but then the three massive lines of ships began firing white energy pulses that destroyed the Blue Giants, before they could get close enough to get the maximum punch out of their beams. More than a hundred thousand Blue Giant Battleships were left burning behind the advancing Violet Fleet.

  The First Leader looked at the others, “I think it would be a waste to send our entire fleet at those ships. It’s clear they can launch those energy pulses faster than we could get ships close enough to kill them. What should we do?”

  The Third Leader said, “It appears we can do nothing but run. Unfortunately, most of our populations have not been moved and will die if we don’t slow them down.”

  The Seventh said, “I was wondering if we should contact those ships from the other galaxy.”

  The First was silent for a long moment and then said, “I don’t think they’ll assist us. I know we would not help them.”

  “What if they meant what they said?”

  “Other civilizations always tell falsehoods hoping to be spared. Do you honestly thing they would come to help us against this enemy or celebrate our destruction.”

  “I don’t know. They have not matched up to any pattern I’ve ever seen.”

  The First looked around the table and said, “Contact them and see what they say.”

  • • •

  Arvolo was about to issue the order to jump, when his communications officer said, “Communication coming in from the Blue Giants.”

  Arvolo said, “Hold the count down. Let’s see what they have to say.” Cyanna breathed a sigh of relief; this delay will give the Needles more time to make the changes. Arvolo took the communication on his board and listened in as Christopher Connor answered. Arvolo wondered why Chris sounded like he was out of breath.

  • • •

  Chris said, “I understand you’re being attacked by the Violet Ships.”

  “That is the reason for my communication. I was wondering if your statement about assisting us if we were attacked was still valid.”

  “As a matter of fact it is.”

  “Will you come and help us? Our fleet cannot standup to their ships.”

  “Our fleet is already in position to attack their fleet. Admiral, do you need the Blue Giants to do anything to assist you in your plans?”

  Arvolo punched his board, “Yes, I need you to send a line of ships at their fleet and make it appear you are making a massive attack along the entire front of their lines. When your ships arrive within range of their weapons, have your ships jump away.”

  The Seven Leaders looked at each other and the Seventh said to them privately, “They were coming to help before we asked. This is something we must consider if we survive this.”

  The First acknowledged the thought and said, “Send the orders and inform the White Ships that we will be moving in on the invaders momentarily.” Arvolo received the response and watched a feed from the Blue Giant Ships as they formed a long line and start accelerating at the three long lines of Violet Ships.

  • • •

  The Fleet Controller watched as a million of the giant blue battleships formed a line and started accelerating toward his fleet. “Stop forward motion and prepare to fire when the enemy moves in range.”

  The Controller watched the line of giant ships move closer and heard his Weapons Controller say, “Fire all pulse cannons,” just as the line of Giant Ships disappeared.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “We have a thousand small ships in the rear of our lines.”

  “How many?”

  “Actually there are twelve hundred ships that are launching thousands of tiny craft.”

  The Controller’s last command was for the center of his three lines to turn and fire on the ships behind his fleet. His ship blew up so fast after the command, that he never saw what was happening to the center of his three lines. The Communication Controller was unable to send a picture of the ships attacking the fleet from the rear back to their home galaxy, as he was disintegrated along with everyone else on the bridge before the scanners could be activated.

  • • •

  Each of the three lines of Violet Ships had four hundred Earth Battleships appear directly behind the center of their line. The four hundred ships lined up behind each of the three Violet ship lines had six miles of spacing between them and fired a massive broadside of strikers and main beams into the center of the three long lines. The strikers and beams blew away twenty thousand ships from each line and the explosions were massive. The lines remaining on each side of the massive explosions no longer had a force field on the ends where the ships in the middle were destroyed. Arvolo watched his display and said, “Admiral, what’s penetrating their force fields?”

  Cyanna looked at her board and said, “It’s the strikers, Sir. They’re knocking a big enough hole through the force fields for our main beams to get through. The main beams only weaken the field. It’s the strikers that are doing the damage.”

  Arvolo turned back to his display and saw the Violet Ships in the six lines that had been separated by the destruction of the ships in the middle start to turn to bring their weapons to bear on the small ships at their rear. He watched as three long lines of Needles moved over the top and three more long lines moved below the bottom of the massive destruction. Each of the six lines of Needles were accelerating at one of the Violet Ships lines.

  • • •

  Wes Maddit watched as his three lines of Needles moved over the top of the exploding center of the Violet fleet at high acceleration and bore down on the three lines to the left of the formation. Three more lines of Needles moved under the center toward the three lines to the right of the formation. The force fields on the ends of those six lines were blown away with the destruction of the Violet Ships in the center and were left open to attack.

  Gretchen Logan led eight thousand Needles toward the top line of Violet Ships. The line of Needles was moving at one quarter light speed and as she arrived at the open end of the Violet Ships force fields, she fired two fusion missiles into the open end and then jumped into Sierra Space. Each of the eight thousand Needles following her launched their two missiles into the opening and disappeared with her. All six lines of the Violet Ships had more than sixteen thousand fusion missiles flying inside their force field in less than thirty seconds.

  The first missiles launched were set to explode at the far end of the forty thousand ships in the line. The missiles following the first were set to explode three thousand miles from the ones launched in front of them. The fusion missiles had been set to fly the length of the line and they were all set to go off simultaneously. As the last two missiles were launched into the open end of the Violet Ship’s force fields, the sixteen thousand missiles accelerating down the six lines blew up into massive explosions that filled the force fields from one end to the other, blowing out of the open ends.

  The Violet Ships saw the small fusion missiles fly by their line but were unable to fire their weapons inside their force field. The energy pulses would pass through the force field, but would not activate until they were clear. The Violet Ships were trapped inside a hollow tube that reflected the shock wave from the thousands of missiles back into the ships at the center.

  The Blue Giant Fleet watched as the three lines of Vi
olet Ships were blown into debris and vapor in a blast so massive that the light would one day in the far future be seen by telescopes in the Milky Way. The entire battle lasted less than two minutes. They were stunned and shocked at the efficiency of the small White Ships.

  Arvolo looked at Cyanna and said, Jump the Fleet out of here to the other side of the Milky Way. We’ll retrieve the Needles there.”

  Cyanna said over the general frequency, “All ships, all ships, jump to our starting location immediately. Jump Immediately.”

  The Earth Fleet disappeared and Arvolo watched his display as all of the Fleet’s Ships arrived. He turned to Cyanna, “Excellent work in making the change to the Needle’s attack routes.”

  “You were right, there was no way we could have had them all come over the top. They would have run into each other if we had done it that way.”

  Arvolo’s communicator beeped and he listened as George contacted the Blue Giant Leaders.

  • • •

  “I’m sure you’re wondering why we jumped our fleet away so quickly.”

  The Seventh said, “Not really; you’re anticipating the enemy will send a follow up ship to determine what happened here.”

  George smiled, “You’re right. I suspect that if you can move populations you might want to do so as quickly as possible. I don’t think they will allow this to go without some sort of response.”

  “We agree but they can’t do it quickly. You have given us time to save the bulk of our populations. We thank you for your help.”

  “It was the right thing to do. We wish you success in survival.”

  “Before we end this communication, we want to know why you chose to assist us.”

  “We have tried to convince you that we are not your enemy nor do we ever want to be. We would hope that one day when you’re able to overcome your suspicions, you may choose to be a friend.”

  The Seventh looked at the First and he linked with the others. After a moment, he linked with the Seventh and thought, “I’ll take it from here.” He thought, “We will not invade your galaxy again. You have earned that as payment for your actions today. This is not an easy decision for us to make and I know we will continue to second guess ourselves about it, but you have allowed us to survive and you deserve the consideration.”

  George paused, “You know they’ll be looking for you?”

  “Yes, we do; however, we have today and who knows how many more thanks to your kindness.”

  “If you need us again, we will come.”

  The First paused and then said, “You mean that, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do. We do not choose to conquer anyone, but to defend ourselves against those that would come and destroy us. It is only appropriate to assist others that are being attacked as well.”

  The First looked around the table and said, “If you need our help, we will come to your defense as well. Good luck.”

  • • •

  George looked at the Command Team on his display and said, “It appears they are taking a radical step in choosing to defend us.”

  Dolly nodded, “Which brings up another question.”

  George tilted his head and slowly shook it, “I’m not sure we should do that, Dolly.”

  Chris said, “What are you two mind readers talking about? Do what?”

  “Give them our reactor technology.”

  Chris was stunned silent.

  Dolly said, “If they will no longer attack us, we should help them be as strong as possible in the event they do have to come to our defense.”

  Arnold said, “How do you know they’re being honest?”

  “Think about it; they have said all along that they would have to come and destroy us for the danger we represent. If they were capable of not telling the truth, they would have never said that to us. They have been honest to a fault.”

  George said, “But they have not been tempted to attack because they know we could destroy their ships. If we gave them our technology, they might give in to that temptation.”

  “George, do you think the Violet Civilization will be searching for them now that we destroyed their fleet?”

  George took a deep breath and nodded.

  “That is part of our responsibility and I suspect our galaxy will be searched again as well. We may not be able to deceive them again.”

  Jillian said, “Ask them.” Everyone looked at her and she said, “If they are completely honest, see what they say if we offer them our technology.”

  Dolly looked at George and he shrugged. She looked at Arnold and he shrugged as well. She reached over and punched her communication panel.

  • • •

  The First looked at the other leaders and said, “Perhaps these beings in the White Ships are different.”

  “They will only grow stronger. How do we know they will always stay that way? Time has a way of changing things.”

  The Seventh said, “I find myself agreeing with the Third but I do think they have won the courtesy of us not initiating the conflict. The First looked over the table and said, “They are contacting us.” He touched the light and said, “We are here.”

  Dolly said, “We were wondering something and wanted to see what your thoughts are on the issue.”

  “What is the issue?”

  “If you developed technology that was stronger than what we currently possess, would you then choose to attack us?”

  The First said, “It would really be tempting. We know that you can destroy us at this moment and that does cause us some trepidation. Give us a moment.”

  “I’ll be waiting for your response.”

  The First said, “Link and then link with our populations and see how they would answer this question.” The Seven linked minds and then linked through the communicators with all of the members of their civilization. After an hour, the First thought, “Thank you for your thoughts. We do owe these beings for saving us.”

  The Seven Leaders broke the link and the Seventh said, “I’m genuinely surprised that our warriors are almost unanimous in their position.”

  The First said, “They were saved. They, more than any of the others, know what destruction looks like.” The First touched the table and said, “I have your answer.”

  Dolly was startled and said, “Go ahead.”

  “We have linked with all of our populations and more than eighty percent agree that we are right in our agreement to never attack you again. So even if we were technologically stronger, you have earned the right to exist. Why do you ask this question?”

  “We are considering giving you our technology.”

  The seven leaders were stunned by the statement. The First finally said, “Why would you do that? You know the danger we represent.”

  “You just said that you are no longer a danger to us.”

  “Yes, but how could you trust us; words are not always spoken in truth. We’ve seen that agreements mean nothing when survival is at stake.”

  “Have you ever used words that were not true?”

  “No, but you have no way of proving that.”

  “I think you have been nothing but honest with us. However, here is the bargain we will make with you. If you will agree to stop attacking other civilizations, we will share our technology with you.”

  Dolly waited for several minutes for an answer and then George said to the Blue Giant Leaders, “You will not be restrained by this agreement if you are going to be attacked or being scouted for attack. We will only use our technology to defend ourselves against an aggressor. We would only ask that you do the same.”

  “That makes a large difference in our consideration of your proposal. We need some time to see what the consensus of our populations would be on this matter.”

  “Take all the time you need. We worry that the Violet Civilization will come searching for you and we have a responsibility for making that happen.”

  “That may be true but if you had not intervened, we wouldn’t survive to use what
you offer. The very fact that you are making this offer has convinced us that our civilizations will one day be linked. I’ll contact you once this has been resolved.”

  George said, “The issue you must resolve is whether or not your civilization is a predator or a very dangerous prey.”

  The First paused and said, “That says it in very simplistic terms, but I can see your analogy.”

  Dolly looked at her board and the connection ended. “Does anyone doubt they’ll keep their word?”

  Arnold shook his head, “It appears you were right. They are honest to a fault.”

  George said, “I trust them more than I do the Moet or the Alliance. I still believe they would attack if they could.”

  Hemon said, “I’m not sure about that, George. I’ve been keeping an eye on them and they’ve started trading with each other. Their economies are starting to boom. I genuinely think the Moets are not looking forward to the Crown returning. They may not be the issue you think.”

  George shook his head, “I wonder what would happen if we removed our threat to destroy the first one to attack the other.”

  Hemon shrugged, “Then remove it and see what happens.”

  “Do what?”

  “Remove the threat and see if they’ve learned anything.”

  George looked at Dolly and she said, “Some things must be accepted and can’t be forced.” Dolly looked at Jeff and said, “Notify the ships to inform the Alliance and Moet that we will no longer stand between them.”

  Jeff frowned, “Are you sure about this?”

  “Yes, I am. Just have a fleet ready to jump in if needed.”

  Jeff smiled and turned to his board. Now this should be something to observe.

  Chapter Three

  Tenah looked at the Baron on his display and saw that he was one unhappy Moet. The Drooping eyestalks said more than anything he could say about his disposition. “I assume you have been notified about our restraints being removed.”

  The Baron moved his front eye stalks forward, “I was told at the exact moment they told you so that neither of us would have an advantage if we chose to attack.”