TK saw her Father start greeting guests and worried about him. The stress of ruling the Empire was showing and she knew her Mother was worried about his health. She continued to listen to Jingos as she glanced at the long line of attendees that were hoping to see the Emperor. She saw a couple at the back of the line with a young boy and a baby girl. Who were they? Oh yeah, Carrie and Michael Blake. Their planet was one that was to be moved in a few weeks. She stared at the young boy and saw him immediately look her way and smile.
Ive been wondering when you were going to notice me?
TKs mouth fell open.
Yes, Ive been listening to you all night.
Youre telepathic?
Of course; I started to beg off and not come but I wanted to see what my future bride looked like. I must say, I am impressed. You are absolutely beautiful. However, now weve started communicating, I suspect there will be compulsions to stop us. Do you feel them yet?
TK did. That told her more than anything this boy just said that he was right about their future. TK smiled, Ive been wondering who I was going to be matched up with. You must be further along in your development than I am.
Maybe, however, I had to see you before the compulsions became too strong to overcome. Now that I have, I can wait until the right time. Youre really something.
TK smiled as she stared at him, Youre not so bad yourself. Ill see you when the time is right. Ill try to catch up before we meet again.
The young boy smiled, nodded, and turned to bow to Emperor Robbins. Scotty nodded and as they stepped away he immediately looked at TK. TK shook her head and wondered how her father, who had no active psychic ability, sensed the boys connection to her. She smiled and turned back to ten year old Jingos, Jingos youngest child. He had inherited his fathers natural ability to carry on a conversation for hours and he hadnt even noticed her not paying attention to him. Once he got on a subject, it would take a stunner to stop him from talking for hours. She interrupted, Jingos, you know youll get a Zord of your own before too much longer. Just have patience. Jingos started complaining again and TK looked at the young boy as he walked with his parents to the other side of the huge room.
TK sighed as she felt the negative feelings hit her. He was right. She was being pushed away from any feelings for him. Even so, he was a very attractive boy with an interesting mind. Even negative compulsions couldnt prevent her seeing that. She was going to have a talk with her Aunt as soon as possible. Dani could tell her what to expect. TK looked around. Where was Dani and Robby? They should have been here already.
Dani and Robby stood in a crater on the surface of a moon overlooking a huge industrialized planet. They had surrounded themselves with a psychic bubble that would hide them from the Black Ships sensors and used their armors passive scanners to view the battle taking place above the planets atmosphere.
That ship is a different model than the one that destroyed our two ships.
Dani shook her head, I dont think the ship is new although it has been modified. Theyve added a raised bridge on the hull which will give them additional weapon storage and a better view around the hull. Putting that bulge in the hull changed the lines and shape but everything else looks just like the one that killed our ships.
Robby stared at his scanner and said, Theyre also able to communicate without having to lower their force field. I detect a frequency being used.
That is a change, Robby, but its not advancement in their weapons. The strength of the force field is unchanged and the beam cannons on the hull are essentially the same size, location, and barrel length. There have been incremental changes but the ship is still basically what theyve been using since our last encounter.
Robby briefly glanced across the surface of the moon and saw the ruins of a base that the Invaders had destroyed directly across the crater from where they were standing. There wasnt much left of the giant structure. He shook his head and looked back up at the planet with the fleet of huge Black Ships in orbit. The Invaders were kicking off the preliminary invasion of this universe by first attacking the strongest planet and eliminating its fleet. They watched as the Invader Ships destroyed thousands of ships jumping in attempting to defend the planet.
One of the Invader ships had been destroyed when nine hundred ships attacked simultaneously. The destruction of the Black Ship was not good for the planet, as six more Black Ships jumped in to support their attack. Robby and Dani watched their scans as the remaining defending ships were burned out of existence. The twenty Black Ships hung in orbit, killing any new ships that jumped in attempting to save the planet.
Dani looked at Robby, Why are they just hanging in orbit?
The task of this fleet is to soften up the forces theyll have to face when the entire fleet arrives in nine months. Its clear this planet has become the major force occupying this universe. More than three hundred thousand ships have already been demolished in the initial attack and, according to my scans, another two hundred thousand jumped in afterwards. Theyre waiting because they want to make sure whoever is on the planet calls in all the forces available to defend it. That will weaken all the other planets that they now control.
If theyre not invading to start farming, what are they going to do with this planet?
Robby sighed, Dani, you know what happens next. This planet is far too industrialized for their purposes. Most of the land masses are covered with huge cities. The effort to clear land for growing pods would be too expensive and time consuming.
Dani watched as the number of ships jumping in became fewer and finally an hour passed where none appeared. Nineteen of the Black Ships jumped away for other military targets leaving one behind. The ship waited another hour and then it happened. A brilliant green beam shot out from the huge ship and struck the planet at the largest citys location. The beam was more than a thousand miles wide and when it hit; the continent below was shattered and the shockwave blew the atmosphere away. The Invader moved around the planet and fired four more beams into other major population centers. The entire surface caught fire and a once beautiful green and blue planet turned into a red burning ball of smoke and ash.
Robby watched the planet die and felt his anger start to rise. Dani felt it as well and didnt want to control it. She was also feeling horror and grief at the huge loss of life. She looked at the Black Ship and said, Robby, theyve lowered their force field.
Robby looked at his scanner and saw that a new frequency was being used to communicate, Dani, they must have to drop the force field to communicate to another dimension. Now would be a good time to make them pay.
How do you want to do this?
We know where their reactors are located. Well teleport in and hit them with our armors strongest beam and then well teleport away immediately after we fire.
They also have a missile storage bay on the other side of the ship from the reactors. Ill hit that port simultaneously with the hit on the reactors. Are you ready?
Lets do this before they stop communicating
Do you think they can see us?
Robby thought a moment, If we were just using our camouflage there would be a chance. However, were using our psychic ability to hide our armor. I dont think theyll be able to see us through that. At the first sign of a weapon warming up on their hull, teleport back here. Are you ready?