“I suspect that being a telepathic species that they are able to collect and process information in a central intelligence. They will be even more deadly if they see our teleporting abilities.”
“Perhaps, however, it will take time before they could develop it. I have looked at our records, and they did not have these hulls when we sent our follow up invasion three million years after the first. I do think, like you, that they will eventually develop teleportation once then know it exists, but it will not come quickly.”
“There’s one thing you’re not taking into account in your estimates, Edison.”
“What is that?”
“If as we suspect they have a central intelligence that processes their information, how much larger would that intelligence be now that they have conquered most of that universe and farm millions of worlds. I suspect their processing time is greatly reduced.”
Edison thought a moment, “You’re right; I didn’t think about that. However, even if they are a thousand times larger, it still took several million years to come up with the hulls on their ships. I think the window of discovery will be more than several years. Those principles you and Twig developed are not easily understood. I think we will have the advantage of teleportation for a period of time.”
“Now that they have seen the destruction of your green ships, do you think they might hesitate before invading?”
“Ordinarily I would think so, except for the chance killing of that Searcher.”
Sprig thought about that, “What do you mean?”
“I’m sure when they scanned our universe they saw millions of ships very similar to the ship they destroyed on that moon. They will think that the ones that destroyed our green ships are coming to their universe. They will also know that they destroyed that ship rather easily. No, they will come to remove a possible enemy. And don’t forget that Valerie says they are coming.” There was silence for a few moments then Edison thought to Sprig, “We have one development that at least offers a possibility.”
“What?”
“The skull coating that blocks telepathy from leaking out can also be used to keep telepathy out. That beam they use is an intense telepathic wave. We have begun coating some of our Gamma ships with that substance. I don’t know how it will hold up under the high intensity beam the Keepers use, but it may allow some time before the ship would be damaged. We won’t know for sure until they arrive.”
Sprig gave a mental shrug, “What good would it do if we have nothing that would penetrate their hulls?”
“We develop our defenses and offences as we find them. We can perhaps get close in the event we do find a weapon.”
“We’re doing all we can to develop one, but so far we’ve come up empty.”
“I know, Sprig. Just don’t give up yet.”
“I wish the Gardners were here.”
“As do we all.”
Chapter Nine
The Collective continued to correlate the collected data, “Military, are you ready to offer your conclusions?”
“There are many unknowns. Whoever destroyed the green ships obviously had a weapon that penetrated their hulls. Our hull material is much harder than the Green Hulls, but we don’t know if that would stop whatever weapon was used. That uncertainty causes great distress in deciding the next step.”
“Science?”
“I agree with Military; we don’t know enough to determine just how big a danger we face in that universe. I did see one thing in the scans that bears discussion. They showed large numbers of ships very similar to the one we destroyed at the farm.”
The Collective gave a mental agreement, “I also saw that. I also see that there is not one race that pilots those ships. The thoughts were diverse, and there were thousands of different creatures in those vessels. It would seem that no one race controls that universe.”
Sociology interjected, “I see that the Green Creatures are no longer living in ships but are on planets. Is it possible that after they were conquered they were made slaves?”
The Collective stopped its data analysis, “I did not see that. That is an interesting proposal.” There was a half second of silence while the Collective looked at all the data again, “I think we need to go see what is happening on those planets. We should eliminate them to prevent them from giving information about our capabilities.”
Military replied, “I would think they have already done that long ago.”
“Not if they are slaves. If they are not slaves, then they would represent our biggest threat in that they understand the technology of our ships’ hulls.”
There was silence. Production broke the silence by saying, “Then you are planning to send our forces into that universe?”
“We have killed one of their ships here. Do you not think they are a real threat to us?”
Again there was silence.
Military asked, “How do you envision this happening?”
The Collective hesitated, “We will send a hundred thousand ships to destroy the planets of the Green Creatures. We will evaluate our success or failure and then decide the next step. Military, when are all the ships due to come back?”
“They are arriving now.”
“Are the requisite number here now?”
“Yes; more than double that number.”
“Send the hundred thousand and have the others prepared to follow if needed.”
“Your orders are being issued.”
“I also noticed another interesting bit of data from our scans.”
“What was that, Biology?”
“The three races at the farm where we destroyed that ship have others of their kind in that universe. Their thought frequency matches the inhabitants of many worlds.”
The Collective thought about that, “I want no further harvesting of the farm where the ship was killed.”
Military and Production both thought, “Why? We need the food.”
“If those races at the farm actually came from that universe then that explains why that strange ship was there. I want options available in the event things don’t happen according to plan. We will use those races as hostages if needed and the more of them living there, the greater their value in bargaining.”
“What about our garrison there?”
“They have enough stores to survive a long time. Send them their instructions.”
Production was concerned about the direction the Collective was taking but replied, “They have acknowledged their orders.
“Edison!”
“Yes, Newton.”
“The Searchers we stationed at Hallago’s jump limit have detected thousands of ships coming out of universal drive and moving in-system.”
“Are those Searchers coated with the telepathy coating?”
“Yes, and they are also in stealth mode. It appears they have not been seen by the incoming ships. They will arrive at the planet in twelve hours.”
Edison thought for a moment, “We need to use this to get them to doubt their scanners. When they arrive ten hours out from the planet start having ten percent of the population teleport away every hour such that when they are an hour out, the remainder of the population leaves.”
“What do you think that will do?”
“If it were me in their place it would cause me to question why I see a huge population and as I get closer it disappears. Perhaps it would make them think we can trick their scanners into seeing nonexistent populations.”
Newton thought a moment, “We’ll have the last ten percent teleport from the side of the planet away from them so their teleport screens won’t be seen. I’m sure they will see the thoughts of the last group through the planet, but the teleport energy should be blocked.”