Talel toggled his communicator and said “NOW! All Attackships, skip out to your point of origin. Skip out now.”
None of them were listening. Michael toggled his communicator, “THIS IS FIRST COMMANDER STONE! YOU WILL FOLLOW YOUR ORDERS! SKIP OUT NOW!! DON’T DISHONOR KATY THIS WAY!”
The fighting continued for a few moments and then every Attackship disappeared. The millions of Monsters saw all the enemy ships around them disappear and wondered what was happening. They only wondered for a moment as a billion Silver Ships blew into their formations. The Monsters fought hard but the Silver Ships were so fast they could fly between the disruptor beams without being hit. Their thicker hulls allowed them to withstand a hundred simultaneous hits and most of them weren’t being hit more than five times.
Michael smiled, “I guess they got you right where you wanted them.”
Talel nodded and said, “Thank you.”
“They’ll listen next time, Talel.”
“There won’t be a next time.”
“If you say so. Would you mind if I issue an order to the Attackships.”
Talel’s head tilted, “Go right ahead.”
“I didn’t know if I’d be able to do this but it appears the opportunity has presented itself.” Michael toggled his communicator, “Attention all Attackships. You were all given a coordinate in the Pandora Cluster before the battle and you will skip to those locations and await the arrival of the Legends that are fleeing. Let them know we don’t appreciate their coming here uninvited. Organize into formations when you arrive at your assigned coordinate.”
Talel looked at Michael on his panel, “Where are they going?”
“I’ve assigned a fleet to each of their planets.”
Talel smiled, “I guess this is your way of getting them right where you want them?”
“Something like that and I’m hoping they stay true to their character. The closest ten Legends’ Galaxies have three fleets assigned to them.”
Talel thought about it and started laughing.
The first six Legends to arrive in their galaxies died screaming that enemy ships were waiting at their planets. The Senior Elder arrived ahead of the others and was the first to die. The other Legends panicked, turned their fleets, and fled out of the Pandora Cluster toward their home galaxy in the Bullet Cluster. Twenty five hundred galaxies in the Pandora Cluster found that they were now free of the Legends and civil war erupted in many of them. But others rejoiced and came together to make a civilization that would embrace peace. They vowed to never be slaves again.
The Alliance celebrated the victory and the heroes of the war. The Fleet Academy was named Greenwall Academy and a statue of Katy standing and looking up at the stars was erected in the park at the Academy’s entrance. A plaque on it read, “Beloved Admiral, Who Set the Example of Whom We Should All Strive to Be!”
Jan stared at the statue as it was uncovered during the ceremony honoring her and cried, “She never found her true love.”
Michael smiled, “Yes she did.” Jan’s tears flowed as she looked at him. “She loved Fifth Fleet and they loved her more than any one man could ever do.” Jan went into his arms and wept.
Three months later, all the Alliance Leaders met in the Goran High Chamber and Michael stood up to address them. The mood was festive and for the first time in decades the Alliance was at peace. The room was full of all the Fleet Leaders, the scientists who had made the victory possible and special guests that played a special role in the victory. Lukas and Salud were present and the only ones missing were Chris and Allison.
The room grew silent and Michael smiled, “We’re here to celebrate the fruits of our hard work as well as the sacrifice of too many to count. However, before we start, there are some things that must be done.” Everyone stared at him and the mood suddenly changed. What was going on? “Effective today, I am resigning my Command and recommend that you select Talel to replace me.” The uproar was immediate and Talel was the one objecting the most. Michael looked at Jan and saw her smile and nod. He waited until the room grew silent and several of the Alliance Leaders were standing to be recognized. Michael looked at them, “Hear me out and then you may say what’s on your minds.” The leaders looked at each other and then slowly sat down.
Michal smiled again and said, “This victory is not the end game. The Legends may not be the threat they once were but there is a species of telepaths that was working with them that is actually more extensive than the Legends. They know about us now and I have no doubt that we will see them again in the future. That may be in the distant future but I know they are coming. What normally happens after a long period of peace is a civilization stops planning for war. No matter how hard the leaders try, after many years of peace their civilizations lose the zeal for fighting. They embrace peace and start to enjoy their existence. All of us need look no further than our histories for you to know I’m right. The first thing we’ll do is stop wearing our thought blockers and soon the force field will fall into disrepair. New technology and warships will also fall by the wayside. We have to have leadership that will not allow that to happen.”
Michael looked at the Goran High Leader, “When the Telepaths come back, what species will be their first and primary target?” Every Leader in the room looked at the Goran and he nodded, “They will attack my planets first.”
“Does that frighten you?”
“More than you know.”
“That’s why your species must lead us into the future. You cannot allow us to forget that fear! Fear is what will prevent us from losing what allowed us to survive. That’s why Talel must take command and drive us to be what will be needed against them. I have no doubt that this species has others like the Legends they use to attack their targets. I suspect they may be worse than the Legends.”
Michael looked at the Leaders, “If you knew your species was going to be the first target, you would insist that the others listen to your fears. You should recognize that and see that I’m right.”
The Welken Royal shook his head, “But it’s been your species that has made this victory possible.”
“Talel won in M-87 against a force four times larger than I faced at Earth. It’s time we recognized that we are a family and humans will not stop supporting this effort. My bodyguards will now protect Talel just as they defended me and I truly think that over time our societies will become closer. All of us have a part to play in defending us and the Goran will not lose the drive to keep moving us forward. I can promise you that humans will not let the Goran down.”
Talel said, “I am not capable of doing this.”
The Goran High Leader said where all could hear, “YES YOU ARE!” Talel looked at him and the High Leader smiled, “You are the best of us. If not you, then who?” Talel stared at him and then lowered his head.
Michael looked at the Leaders, “You know I’m right. You can feel it in your gut. Do you still want to protest this?” The Leaders looked at each other and after a moment they leaned back in their chairs. “Good. Congratulations, Talel. If you need advice, I’ll be glad to suggest that you do what your heart tells you. But for the rest of the day, we are going to celebrate.” The room erupted in cheers and Jan rushed up into Michael’s arms. Talel looked at Michael and, after a moment, nodded. Michael smiled and nodded back.
Jan hugged him and said, “What now?”
“There’s still one issue.” Jan looked up at him and sighed. She nodded and hugged him tighter.
The beach was incredibly beautiful and Chris heard, “Do you mind if we join you?”