Ron hit the weapons console and teleported the energy ball into the lowest level of the Keepers’ garrison, punched his teleport board, and held the arms of his chair tight hoping the Keepers’ ship wouldn’t have time to target him with their main beam. His ship disappeared two seconds before the Keepers’ beam went active. Five seconds after Ron teleported out, the Keepers’ garrison exploded and blew more than twenty miles of the planet’s surface into the atmosphere.
The Keepers’ ship in orbit didn’t detect the cities being teleported out before their sensors were blocked by the huge blast. The appearance of the small ship diverted their attention from the crust as it flashed away from the surface. The ship’s Director heard billions of his species die. What was happening?
The Collective heard Military scream, “The farms are being taken!” Before it could respond, it was blown apart by the deaths of more than twenty million garrisons that all perished within two seconds of each other. The Collective did not recover quickly. The bulk of the Keepers’ population was still on the home worlds so it wasn’t killed, but it suffered a huge shock. It was unavailable just when the Keepers needed it most.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ales Jongo turned on his com and saw Admiral Teplig, “I thought I told you to wait for me to contact you?”
“You did, but there is information that I think you should know.”
“What is that?”
“Have you ever seen the real history of the Realm and not the softened public version?”
“Of course. The Crown would like to keep it secret, but all the provincial capitals had original copies of the real history. Why do you ask?”
“Because you are going to get to see some of that history; the Gardner Family is back and has been seen meeting with the Queen.”
Ales’ heart went into his throat. He knew the power of those psychics. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, and that demon Thomas Gardner is leading them.”
Ales thought quickly, “This could be good news.”
“Are you crazy? You’ve seen the history. They’ve never lost a war.”
“Yes, and that means we will win this one with the invaders. Our plans are not worth anything if we can’t beat them. We will just have to move quickly when hostilities end; and I do mean quickly. We should prepare now.”
“That part might be easier.”
“Oh?”
“I don’t know where they are, but the Brez Division is not in the Realm’s galaxy.”
“They are probably being used to fight in the invader’s universe.”
“I hope so. That is one tough fighting unit. We better have numbers on our side or they could cause huge trouble.”
“You know we do. Keep your forces on alert and I’ll do the same. I have the late Duke’s admiral at Del Robles joining our team.”
“That will be enough. Send me the signal when you’re ready.”
“Just make sure you’re prepared.”
The Brez Searchers waited. Thirty thousand of them were going into the Stars Realm to attack the Keepers Fleets in the Realm. The remaining ships were going to where the Keepers Fleets gathered to receive their targets and jump to the Realm. Jake checked his board and thought, “Sprig, are the transports coming in?”
“Yes they are, Jake, and the operation was a huge success. There were eight planets in which the Keepers had killed every inhabitant and shipped them to their home worlds. The Searchers still killed the garrisons, but we weren’t in time to save those worlds.”
“How long before your project is ready?”
“It has been ready for twenty rotations. We were originally holding off until the arrival of the transports, but I’m following your lead now.”
“Have you planned for both eventualities?
“Of course.”
“We begin our attack tomorrow.”
“I wondered about that. I would have thought you would start as soon as the rescues were completed.”
“I need you to do some things first. I suspect that after our operation begins, things will move rather quickly.”
“What is that?”
“I want you to go to the community where I lived and bring them to your galaxy from the other universe where we took them for safekeeping. You need to make that happen quickly. You can use one of the planets you were going to give one of those that were killed by the Keepers. Will you do that today?”
“We moved them four days ago.”
Jake smiled, “I’m always amazed at how thorough you are. Are you still moving planets around?”
“Yes, we are. The most developed planets are being moved hourly, and the others as needed. Why do you ask?”
“I am sending you a list of suggestions I would like for you to consider.”
Sprig looked down on his board and downloaded the list in less than a second. “Jake, are you sure you want this done?”
“I assume you’re referring to the last item on the list.”
“You’re right. The others make perfect sense regardless of how this turns out. But that last one will have huge ramifications if we do it.”
“Will you do it?”
“Do you have a reason for wanting it done?”
Jake paused and said, “Why is your species the most peaceful of our universe? None of you serve in the armed forces, you develop our weapons but don’t use them, and you don’t force your will on anyone. I want you to think what you had to endure to become what you are. Then think about that last request.”
Sprig was silent.
“Will you do it?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I’ll need you to meet me in the Castle shortly after our operation starts. I’ll let you know when.”
“I thought you would. I don’t look forward to that.”
“None of us do, Sprig.”
“Jake, are you sure about this?”
“Yes, Junior. I’ll explain why later.”
“Fair enough. My parents have been looking for me.”
“Why?”
“There are no secrets, Jake. You can’t just take the entire Brez Division and not cause raised eyebrows.”
“I know. Are you able to avoid them until after the operation tomorrow?”
“That’s why I’m staying in this universe with you.”
“I have the same reason, only in my case it is avoiding AG.
“Welcome to my world.
Twelve Keepers Fleets jumped into the Realm and planets started changing locations. What the planets in the Realm didn’t know, because there was only one planet moved into a system, was that more than eighty percent of the Realm’s members were moved all at one time.
“Jake?”
“Yes, Sprig?”
“It’s done.”
“Thanks. Plan to meet me at the Castle in five drags.”
“I’ll be there.”
Jake hit the general frequency on his com, “Searchers, we are starting the countdown in one minute from…now. You know your targets, follow the plan to completion. You’ll need to be back at Ross in five drags. Good luck, and Semper Fi!”
The countdown hit zero and a hundred thousand white ships disappeared from Jake’s display.
“Where to, Jake?”
“Take me to the Keepers’ home world where the Collective Intelligence is located.”
“Oh boy. This should be interesting.”
The Collective was groggy but was functioning. “Military, what happened?”
There was a long silence, and then, “Every farm in our universe has been taken. Every processing center on every planet has been destroyed. It was the deaths of those billions that caused our breakup.”
The Collective knew that without those farms, starvation was only a short time away. We’ll have to gather food from other universes, quickly.”
Suddenly a thought interrupted the Collectives orders, “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”