“I have.”
“Was it your ship that we chased away?”
“It is.”
“Was that the only other time you’ve been here?”
“My leader was here years ago scouting the change of the Orange Ships to the Green.”
“Did that ship he was on do anything while it was here that would allow us to see it?”
“It destroyed two Green Warships pursuing a Black Ship that ambushed some of them.”
“THAT WAS ONE OF YOUR SHIPS?!”
“Yes.”
“STAND DOWN. ALL SHIPS STAND DOWN AND RETURN TO YOUR ASSIGNED POSITIONS!”
“But Commander!”
“Do as I order!”
Chris looked at Allison and she was shaking her head. What was going on?
The being thought, “I was in command of that Black Warship and your leader saved my life along with my crew. We were dead and the two Green Ships chasing us exploded just before they opened fire on my ship. Please accept my thanks for his actions and please tell him as well. I would not be here without his intervention. I’ve been hoping I would one day find out who did it.”
“That’s why you ordered your forces not to open fire on us?”
“It is. I believed that if the being that saved me came here once, he might come again.”
“I don’t know if that was a good idea.”
“We’re here now communicating. I will reverse those orders immediately.” There was a pause and the Commander said, “Why are you here now? There aren’t any ships here from that galaxy of monsters.”
“I know that but I felt we had to find out if your civilization was aggressive and represented a danger to us.”
“The only galaxy that’s in danger from us is the Monster Galaxy. If you’re their enemy, you are my friend.”
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
“Exactly right. Was it you that invaded their galaxy and caused them to leave here?”
“No, that was from the elliptical galaxy located to the east of here.”
“So they were invaded as well.”
“Not really.”
“What does that mean?”
“Two of our scouts were being pursued by a fleet of Progen Ships and they turned and fled toward that galaxy to prevent them from thinking they came from our galaxy. The Green Ships later launched an attack and killed some of the planets on the edge of their galaxy to teach them a lesson. I suspect that galaxy is also targeted for a future expansion.”
“So, they attacked out of revenge for that attack.”
“Yes.”
“You’re not saying something.”
“How can you tell?”
“Your thoughts have changed and your sentences are shorter.”
Chris looked at Allison and she shrugged. He was on his own. “That galaxy knew that they were attacked because we led the Progen toward them.”
The Commander was silent for a long moment and then thought, “What happened?”
“They sent six scouts to my galaxy to plan an attack on us for our actions. I destroyed five of them and sent the sixth one back with a warning that if they sent another ship to my galaxy, I would eradicate every one of them.”
“They ignored your warning.”
“Their species were telepathic and their scouts learned the location of the planet where our Leaders are located. They sent a stealth ship that launched a nuclear missile at their location.”
“How many did you lose?”
“Just one, my wife.”
“You carried out our threat.”
“I did.”
“You killed all of them?”
“I managed to stop before I killed them all. But more than fifty thousand planets were burned into slag before I did.”
“They weren’t able to stop you?”
“I destroyed every warship they had before I attacked their planets.”
“You know telling me this is not a good way to open a conversation.”
“I know.”
“I wouldn’t have stopped.”
“You would have been less if you didn’t.”
“Why do you say that?”
“The intent should have been to remove them as a danger, not to kill trillions of children that had nothing to do with the attack. I discovered that their Supreme Leader ordered the attack when all the others tried to stop it.”
“That didn’t remove their responsibility for it.”
“Arrogance of a Leader is not something a child can stop.”
The being was silent and then another being thought, “So what’s the end result of this?”
“I have promised to defend them against any attack on their surviving planets.”
“You have given me something to think about.”
“Get in line.”
The being chuckled, “You’re more and less than what I thought. I suspect you are also unwilling to exterminate the Orange and Green Civilizations in the Monster Galaxy.”
“If a species ordered you to attack my galaxy and, if you didn’t do it, all of your worlds would be exterminated, would you attack?”
“Are you sure they could destroy my worlds?”
“Yes.”
Then, I’d not have a choice.”
“Neither do they.”
“So there’s more going on in that galaxy than I knew?”
“Yes. However, the Progen are an aggressive civilization and they don’t need much prodding to carry out their orders. The Green Civilization is different but they have no choice but to do as they’re told. The Green Commander that took his ships away from your galaxy was executed for leaving without orders to do so.” The beings were silent and Chris said, “That Commander arrived just in time to defend his planets from the attack of the ships from the other galaxy.”
“I imagine they didn’t appreciate him being executed.”
“We’ve listened to their transmissions and you’re right. They are not happy with the Legends.”
“Is that what the name of the ones calling the shots?”
“Yes.”
“But they’ll have no choice but to follow their orders.”
“It does appear you are right; but for the moment, the Progen have been put in charge again.”
“I wondered why they haven’t returned. They’re frightened of your attacking if they send ships here; am I right?”
“You’re wise. That is exactly what’s happening.”
“We should get together and discuss this.”
“I am not going to land on your planet.”
“Then how do you think we can meet? By the way, where are you?”
“I’m right where you detected me. Do you have a large ship you can bring out?”
“How large?”
“One of your battleships will be large enough.”
“What are you intending to do?”
“I will land my ship in your landing bay.”
“Are you serious?”
“I am. I will leave my force field on but I will come out and meet with you.”
“Do you think your ship could prevent me from then taking it to my planet?”
“My ship could probably destroy every ship you have in this planetary system.” The being’s thoughts underwent a change. “You have no reason to fear me. After all, the enemy of my enemy…”
“…Is my friend.”
The being paused and said, “I’ll board a ship and be there shortly.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing you.”
Chris broke the mental contact and Allison said, “You can’t do this!!”
“I imagine his subordinates are telling him the same thing.”
“But you’re too important, Chris.”
“I’m going to wear armor.”
Allison paused and shook her head, “Even so.”
“Allison, we saved his life. That is what will make the difference. This being is in command because the warriors following him love and respect him. Those qualities are rare in a commander and I’ll be safe. Beside, you will be inside his ship ready to do whatever is needed to defend me.” Allison shook her head and Chris smiled, “Do you honestly think they’ll have a portable weapon strong enough to threaten me inside his ship?”