“How many times was it hit, Admiral?”
Jinks paused the recording and looked at Luke, “At least fifty times. However, that pilot managed to never be hit by more than two beams at a time before she move her pod in and then out of the barrier. That pilot seemed to possess a second sense about when to avoid being hit by enough disruptor beams to destroy her ship. It was the destruction of those four enemy battleships that cleared a path for the heavy to fire on the target. It was that heavy’s round that destroyed that giant vessel. The only way we were able to see her do it was by following her ship from the start of the battle to the moment she skipped in among those battleships.”
Michael looked out at the assembly and said, “Does everyone agree that this pilot deserves to be recognized for her actions?” The entire assembly stood up and cheered. The only one that remained seated was Admiral Katy Greenwall. She was using her wrist unit to look up the pilot in question and she didn’t like what she found. But no one noticed her as a time and place was chosen to award her the Alliance Crescent.
The meeting was adjourned and Michael thought, “Talel, would you stop by a moment.”
“On my way.”
Michael shook a young Admiral’s hand and said, “I know you’re going to do a great job with our fleet. Congratulations on your promotion, you deserved it.” Talel walked up and Michael said, “Excuse me just a moment.” He turned from the gathering and walked toward the balcony. Talel followed him and Michael said, “Let’s do this telepathically.”
“By all means, Commander.”
“Why did you stay after everyone left?”
Talel smiled, “If you had to guess, tell me what you would say?”
Michael smiled, “It’s good to have someone that’s not intimidated by me.”
“Your father saved me and my mother. I look at that as being almost related. I will show you the respect your position deserves but I will speak openly and honest with you.”
“You were planning something.”
Talel shook his head, “How did you arrive at that decision?”
“I suspect I would have done the same thing. You were going to do something to that Legend.”
Talel smiled, “That’s why I couldn’t be angry at what the Sentinel did. The heavy sent with my fleet didn’t get a clear shot so it still had its DM Round. I intended to fire it on the Legends’ Residence after everyone had left. The Sentinel beat me to the punch.”
“Do you think the round would have penetrated the Residence’s force field?”
“I honestly don’t know. That’s why I wanted to do it.”
“That would be good information to have.” Talel nodded. “What do you think about what I said in the meeting?”
“Do you mean about the selected Legend?” Michael nodded. “I believe you’re pretty accurate in your view of what could possibly happen.”
“What about finding where they’re building their new ships?”
“That’s troubling.”
“How so?”
Talel smiled, “You know why.”
“Yes, but I’d like to hear you say it.”
“If they’re going to build those ships, they’re going to need the materials to do it. Where will they get them?”
Michael nodded, “If they have to take them from the galaxies we know, we just have to have enough scouts out to follow the materials to where they’re delivered.”
“I’m surprised no one pointed that out.”
“I suspect Laney will arrive at that realization and contact me after the meeting. She probably realized I didn’t want that piece of information brought out.”
“I could see it in your expression.”
“That’s surprising. However, my concern is what if materials are not being sent from the galaxies in that cluster?”
“Then the Legends are more extensive than we’ve thought.”
“And if this chosen one goes to another Legends’ location…”
“He won’t have the freedom to do as he chooses. He’ll have to build them the way he was ordered.”
“And?”
“The distant Legends will have the diagrams to continue building those ships after he completes his mission.”
“That is what I believe is actually happening.”
Talel shrugged, “The Legends know themselves well enough to never allow one of them to acquire that much power. Why did you propose another view?”
“Because we are going to have to build the ships to confront those ships. This view makes the danger more immediate.”
“Good luck.”
“What do you mean?”
“Have you really taken a good look at the heavies?”
“I’ve looked at their building diagrams. What problem do you see?”
“You should go out with one of them in your fleet. There’s a reason they’re loaded in open space. A really hard shove might ignite that round taking out everything around it.”
“I thought that once the round was loaded in the containment barrel it was safe from exploding?”
“Have you looked at the simulator program on how to pilot a heavy?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“You should. The pilots are trained to line up their target and move directly toward it without major course changes.”
Michael stared at him and after a moment, he frowned, “The developers haven’t been completely honest with us.”
“I don’t know if you can accuse them of that. They have given very specific instructions on how they are to be flown. I’m sure if their pilots follow those instructions, they are safe.”
“But I’m looking at using them in a space battle.”
“I’d be very reluctant to try that with a heavy.”
“We’ve got to have another weapon.”
“That’s how I see it.” Michael looked out from the balcony toward the distant spaceport and thought about the issue. Talel said, “You’ve thought of something?”
“It’s only a wild theory.”
“But the barrier has provided evidence you’re on the right track.”
“Do you see what I’m thinking?”
“I do but it makes no sense to me. How can space not exist?”
“There have been those that have proof it doesn’t. The barrier is the first real evidence to support their conclusions.”
Talel smiled, “I actually considered that I should be in your position instead of you. I think my pride and arrogance is totally misplaced.”
“What do you mean?”
“This is the first real view I’ve had of your mind. Something has made you different from everyone else I’ve ever encountered. I’m serious when I say I see your thoughts and they are beyond my understanding. If there’s anything I can do to support you, just let me know.”
“Thanks, Talel. I may just take you up on that.”
“Whatever and whenever, I’ll do what you need. Thanks for sharing this moment with me.”
“Thank you, but I really don’t see myself as all that special.”
“I needed to see that to rein in my arrogance. Being from a telepathic species tends to give us a superiority complex. I can see now that it’s entirely misplaced. You’ve made me a better person for allowing me to see myself in comparison.”
Michael nodded and extended his hand. Talel shook it and went back in to the conference room. Michael shook his head. What did he see? He stared out at the spaceport again and then looked up at the stars. Could it be there was no separation from them and where he was standing?
He finally stopped worrying about the concepts that troubled him and went back inside. He was surprised that Katy Greenwall had left. Now that was a pleasant surprise. He stayed and socialized with the attendees much longer than he would have normally done. Perhaps the woman was finally growing up.