Lukas nodded, “I’ve thought that maybe we should pack up and move everyone on Eden to a planet in a very distant galaxy to prepare against the day when we could face them.”
Chris smiled and pointed at the star map, “How many galaxies would we be facing if we did that? Our entire future existence would be packing up and running like gypsies. Perhaps finding a distant planet to start a small colony would be an insurance plan to continue the species should we fail but running away from this will only make it worse.”
Lukas nodded, “I’ve seen that as well. But staying assumes there’s a possibility of success.”
Chris smiled and said, “I heard you talking to your friend Jack at your wedding. I had only recently become telepathic and I was curious about everything and I had absolutely no problem invading everyone’s thoughts.” Chris looked around the table, “Don’t worry. I’ve stopped that now that I’ve matured.” He looked back at Lukas, “You told him that Earth was Holy Ground for our species and that we would never…ever…allow it to become the property of another species. You promised him he would be buried with Mary and that we would never give up until we were back.” Lukas lowered his head. Chris shook his head, “If we run, I can assure everyone here that Earth will be settled by the enemies that killed all of us that were still on it.” The room grew silent, “And Jack’s and Mary’s graves along with all the other graves, will be desecrated when the new conquering species move in and dig them up to build on the land they’re on.” Chris looked back at the star map, “There are some things that are worth dying for to prevent.”
Julie smiled, “So defending Holy Ground is something that will be our goal in what’s going to happen?”
Chris looked at her, “It is.”
Jinks listened to Chris and sighed, “All righty then. How do we do it?”
Chris looked at him and smiled, “Jinks, I’ve wanted to be like you from the first time I met you.”
“What?”
“There is no subterfuge in you. You see a goal and go after it and to hell with the consequences. That is what we’re going to need to have the courage to do this. I’ll tell you how we’re going to do this, we’re not going to do it alone.”
Salud leaned forward, “What do you mean?”
Chris looked at Salud and smiled, “Professor, I need you to come up with an instructional program.”
“Say what?”
“You are going to collect the recordings of everything that has happened to our species since Lukas arrived here on Willow up to the scouts that went out and found the galaxies the Legends control. You will narrate the final recording and describe how we have managed to develop our technology each time to confront our attackers. You will describe everything our ships were able to do in the past as well as what they’re capable of now. You will include what I did to M-84 and the horrible mistake I made.”
Salud shook her head, “That’s not a good idea. It gives the wrong impression.”
“You will not attempt to justify what we’ve done. You will simply explain what happened without explanation. The recording will not be propaganda.”
“What do you intend to do with this?”
“I am taking it to Piper and ask him to deliver it to the members of his species that are on the force field protected planet.” Everyone stared at Chris in silence.
Salud shook her head, “What do want to happen?”
Chris looked at the star map with the thousands of flashing lights and said, “I’ve really felt bad for things we caused that led to the deaths of others.” He turned and looked at the group, “I felt that we had caused the Invaders to come and attack our galaxy. But I was wrong. They are coming here no matter what we’ve done in the past or what we do in the future. The only issue that has to be resolved is whether or not we meet them united or fall individually. There’s really no other question.”
Salud nodded, “The recording of what you just said will end the documentary.”
Lukas nodded and said, “So what do we do now?”
“Is the force field active at Eden?”
Julie said, “Not yet.”
Chris looked at Lukas, “Make it happen, quickly.” He looked at Jinks, “Where are we with the simulators?”
“They’re really good. The new pilots are doing a great job when they get their ships.”
“What are you doing with the ships they left behind?”
“Nothing, at the moment.”
“You will find pilots from them. We are going to need every ship we have to meet them. I know our older models won’t match up to the Legends’ Black Ships, but the Legends won’t be coming alone. They’ll be bringing all the tools they have with them. Our older models are not something to ignore. They can still take on and destroy the new Orange and Green Civilization’s Ships. They’ll need to do that while our Barrier Pods take on the Legends’ fleets.”
Chad looked at Chris, “Do you honestly think this will make a difference?”
“Before I stopped prying in everyone’s mind, I took a look at Jason Goddard’s. He had a conversation with Piper when they first met and Piper told him there were more than a billion of his species scattered around the universe. If they agree to join us, what do you think?”
Chad shook his head in wonder and said, “But are they able to stand up to the Legends?”
“After we give them our Dark Energy and Barrier Drive, I suspect they’ll give a good accounting of themselves.”
Chad’s face became anxious, “Chris, they were going to force us to leave Andromeda. If we give them that technology, they could conquer Andromeda and the Milky Way!”
Chris smiled and shook his head. He looked at Lukas, “Do you think the same?”
Lukas stared at Chris and then looked at Chad, “The only way that would happen is if we put our technology in the hands of a conqueror. The Silver Ships could have conquered Andromeda long before we showed up but they didn’t. They chose to go out and see the universe instead. I would guess that conquering a galaxy would seem like picking up a grain of sand on the beach and acting like it was a grand accomplishment. Once you see the universe, conquest is silly. You could never…ever…get it all.”
Stoney shook his head, “Then why would they be even slightly interested in joining us if they are so far removed from war?”
Chris smiled, “Because members of their family live on a planet in Andromeda. You never outgrow love, Dad.” Stoney smiled and then nodded.
Salud looked up from the notes she had been making, “Is there anyone else you intend to send this to?”
“I am going to take it to the telepathic species in M-84.”
Everyone grew silent and finally Lukas said, “Why?”
Chris looked at Joey, “How do you see our shipbuilding coming along?”
“It really started slow but it’s picking up speed. I’ve had four more construction facilities built and they’re starting to really deliver. By the end of sixty days, we’ll be churning out more than six thousand a week.”
Chris looked at the group, “At that rate, all of our older ships will be stripped of their crews and we will have difficulty finding the number needed to fly them. Remember, Eden’s population is under a billion and a third of them are children. Those telepaths can pilot our old ships as well as the new ones.”
“Chris, you can’t trust them with our weapons!”
Chris looked at Sarah, “Possibly not. But I intend to go and really take a good look at their hearts. I didn’t do it the last time I was there.”
“They hate you!”
“And I felt the same about them.”