Hengel fought for patience and said calmly, “Averel, please inform Michael that they are sending a fleet to where the first Sentinel was detected.”
“Uhhh, Dad, they’re sending five hundred fleets to that planet.”
Hengel fought to not scream and said, “Please tell the Commander, Dear.”
Hengel broke the connection and Hensel looked at his mother. “Is there something important about where the first Sentinel was seen?”
Averel looked at her seven year old and decided he needed a wakeup call. “Earth is where they saw the first Sentinel, Dear.”
Hensel stared at his mother for a long moment. “They didn’t see it the first time at a planet in M-87.” Averel shook her head. Hensel’s bronze colored brow furrowed and he said, “That means they are coming here and you will be put in danger.”
“Along with your father and you, Hensel.” Averel saw her son blink and in that instant, she saw something come alive behind his eyes. What was it? Hensel stood up and left the room. Averel stared at the door he walked through and refused to believe a seven year old’s eyes could show that much danger. Averel sighed and lifted her wrist unit.
“Talel, we’re going to have to split our forces.”
“What?”
“The bulk of the Legend Fleets will be going to M-87 and I believe they’ll be going after the Audons that refused to follow the former Legends’ orders. Five hundred of their fleets will be coming to Earth.”
“Why would they go there?!”
“It appears the Head Honcho Legend has some questions about why only one Sentinel was seen here when they know there are many others. It may be of the opinion that they are here hiding from them. Whatever the reason, we’re going to have to defend two galaxies.”
“That means Andromeda and your galaxy will have to take on those coming to Earth and my species will have to join with our forces in M-87.”
“That’s what the geography demands. I’ll be sending some of my forces to join you.”
“You shouldn’t do that, Commander. Your planet is going to be attacked.”
“I have five hundred of their fleets coming here. More than nineteen hundred fleets will be going to M-87. They’ll all be bringing their tools and you can’t handle that many ships without our support.”
“I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but losing Earth will be a much bigger loss than M-87 to our Alliance.”
“I’m aware of that. However, I’m not willing to allow any member to not be defended properly.”
“You should allow the membership to vote on that.”
“There will be no vote. If you are successful against them, then get your backside here. We’ll do the same but we will divide our forces in proportion to the threat facing the members.”
“You are the one in Command and I will follow your orders. Who is going to command the forces in your galaxy?”
“That will fall to me.”
“You should allow your Fleet Commanders to do that, Leader.”
“I will as much as possible. Admiral Greenwall will be in command of the new Attackships and Admiral Stone will command the defenses above the planet.”
“What about the Battle Pods?”
“I’m calling in some help.”
“Who?”
“Admiral Jekins.”
“He’s in intelligence. He hasn’t commanded a fleet.”
“No, but his father has.”
Talel smiled, “I’ll not worry about what’s happening there. I can see you will do what has to be done.”
“You’ll have more than you can handle on your end. I’m sending Josh with the ships I’m sending to you. He’ll command them however you need them.”
“Thank you, Commander. I’ll keep you up to date on our strategy.”
“Give ’em hell, Talel.”
The display went dark and Jan said, “I wasn’t around to see the last war. How many ships will be coming here?”
Michael pressed a button on his panel and an image of the first ships that came in the very first invasion appeared. Jan’s eye went wide. “About four times that number.” Jan looked at him and couldn’t speak. Michael looked at the image and he smiled a wicked grin, “This time we have more than ten thousand times the number of ships we had then.”
“But you’ll still be outnumbered by more than a hundred to one.”
Michael looked at her, “It’s not the quantity that counts, it’s the quality of the ships we now have.”
“So, you think we’ll win?”
“That’s something that we’ll just have to see when it’s over. But they will regret coming to our Holy Ground again.”
“Would it be inappropriate to send our Children to Eden?”
“That is something you should do now.”
Jan left the room and knew there was reason to fear what was coming. The outcome was not a certainty either way.
Chapter Nineteen
“Commander?”
“Who is this?”
“I’m sorry for interrupting your planning for the coming fight but I thought I should tell you something.”
“Who…is…this?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. My name is Hensel.”
“You’re Averel’s son.”
“Yes, Commander, I am.”
“How are you able to communicate with me telepathically when I’m wearing a thought blocker?”
“Those don’t work with me.”
“Well I really hope you aren’t as nosey as your mother.”
“Actually, I’m probably worse than she is. Both of my parents have tried their hardest to stop my prying into others thoughts and haven’t been successful. I try not to do it but it’s just so hard.”
“Why have you contacted me?”
“There is something I think you should know and I don’t want to have to tell my Mother and upset her again.”
Michael felt the young Goran’s sorrow at disappointing his mother and smiled, “I won’t tell her.”
“Thank you so much, Commander.”
“What is it?”
“The ones that are coming here are not bringing what they call tools.”
“WHAT?”
“Their uhhhh, tools can’t move through the void fast enough to keep up with them. They’re sending them to M-87 with the other fleets. They’re only bringing the black colored ships with them here.” Michael went to his chair from the monitor he was staring at and sat down. “The tools for all those bad creatures were sent out more than eight days ago so they will arrive at the same time as the black ships.”
“Hensel.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“If you see anything else that you think I might need to know, do not hesitate to contact me in the future.”
“Do you mean it?”
“I insist on it.”
“Thank you, thank you.”
“I’ll keep this just between the two of us.”
“That will help a lot.”
The contact ended and Michael picked up his communicator. “Katy, I want all of our Battle Pods skipped out to M-87 immediately.”
“WHAT?”
“The Legends are not bringing their tools here. Order them out now and notify Josh that they will be joining his fleets immediately.”
“Yes Sir?”
Michael heard the concern in her voice but he ignored it and contacted Talel. He told him what was happening and ordered him to send every ship he had to go out and meet the tools that were moving toward M-87.
“Piper.”
“Hello, Michael.”
“The Legends have already launched their tools toward M-87 ten days ago. I’ve ordered Talel to send every ship he has to meet them before they arrive and try to remove them from the coming battle. Can you contact Talel and get your forces moving with his.”
“I’ll make the contact now.”