One Searcher snickered, Are you that stupid. We dont need agricultural products but we can always use a transport such as the one youre in. You will lower your screen and disembark or we will destroy you.
Surely you know I can do you no harm. Im just attempting to open trade relations.
This is your last warning. Do as weve ordered or I will fire on you.
Jess, it looks like they mean business.
Lets give them one more opportunity.
I thought Searchers didnt attack those that couldnt defend themselves?
You thought wrong. You have ten seconds to comply.
Tesa, it looks like youre right.
You should at least warn them.
I feel I must tell you that if you fire on me, I will defend myself.
Both Searchers laughed and one fired at the shuttle. The beam stopped at the shuttles screen. The Searcher was surprised but raised the power of his beam and fired again without penetrating the shuttles defenses. Both Searchers then opened fire with their main beams and were shocked when the shuttles screen absorbed both beams without any change in color.
I warned you.
The Searcher that was still holding station at the planet was stunned by what it was witnessing. Then it saw two beams erupt from the black shuttle and blow through the screens of the two Gamma ships and vaporize them. It watched as the shuttle turned toward it and then it heard, I guess if you dont want to trade, Ill just have to take what I want.
The Searcher jumped away and gave the alarm to Fleet Headquarters.
Tesa, I think we can go now.
I would really like to see what happens next.
Ok, well teleport in to the next planet and hide inside its atmosphere. We should be able to see from there.
I wonder how Greyson and Timmy are doing.
Greyson just let me know that they had to kill six but now theyre moving to their next assignment.
Do we have time to hang around and see?
We have an hour. Oh, here they are.
Three hundred Searchers jumped into Lizellas system and spread out scanning for the intruder. Tesa and Jessica recorded them and Tesa said, My, that language is really offensive.
You know theyre just a bunch of sailors. What else would you expect? Time to go. Jessica teleported out to her next target.
The Orange Being was leaning back in his chair when his Sensor Leader said, Im hearing reports of multiple ships being killed.
What!
Yes, it appears that more than forty ships have been killed by ships that are impervious to their weapons.
Find out where?
The reports are coming in from all over this Kings Realm.
We need to find one of those ships.
It appears that when reinforcements arrive, they have already left.
The Ships Commander thought about what was happening. If he left, there was a chance his ship would be discovered prematurely. He knew he could handle the ships of the King he had been scouting but these new ships represented an unknown enemy. Lower our screen and contact our link; then ask for instructions.
The probe outside the ship saw the force field lower around the giant ship and it took a quick passive scan and moved quickly to the hull where it attached itself.
We are ordered to remain hidden. This is a war between the local civilizations and we should get a scan of one of those ships during their conflict.
The Commander showed his disgust and motioned for the field to go back up.
The Sensor Leader saw that variance in the cosmic ray background again but said nothing.
Grace, I have a scan of that ship.
And.
Its worse that I thought. The weapons on that ship can destroy any ship in our universe.
Even the ones weve updated.
Yes.
So what do we do?
We have to discuss this with your friends and start arming them.
Are you sure?
Of course not but we have no choice. We can only hope what we have will be enough. Im not certain it will be.
Grace felt Alexs fear and began to feel it as well. Where was the Realm when you needed it?
King Jilico Border listened to the reports coming in and felt his anger growing. He looked up as Rehoben entered his personal quarters and stared as his trusted advisor came forward, Ive just seen the reports, Your Majesty. Weve been unable to catch one of these perpetrators.
I want them found and eliminated. Ro, Im holding you personally responsible for their destruction.
Ro looked at Jilico and started shaking his head, Your Majesty, you have ordered me to leave in three days to go put pressure on Daulun.
Forget Daulun! Send word youve been delayed and get on this now. These are the first successful attacks against us and I will not tolerate it. I want those ships found and the ones that sent them destroyed. Do you understand!?!
Yes, Your Majesty. However, I need you to help guide me. How do I find these ships when they jump away before we can arrive?
They leave jump tracks. Follow them.
We have followed them and lose them after three jumps. There are no tracks to follow after their third jump.
Jilico stared at Ro, looked at his display, and turned back to Ro How is that possible?
We have no idea but were chasing our tails trying to find them.
Jilico looked back at his display and saw another three ships destroyed. He stood and walked to the window overlooking his capital city and put his hands behind his back and swayed back and forth. Ro remained silent. He knew that the King was at his most dangerous at moments like this. Finally Jilico said, They are attacking our ships that are holding station outside the jump limit, right?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Move the Searchers two hours inside the jump limit. If they move inside we will trap them. They will have to come to us.
Ro nodded, I will issue the orders immediately.
Ro left the room and Jilico continued to sway looking out at Olympos, his capital city.
Scotty answered his com and saw Jeramiah Jongo, Your Majesty, the Ambassador has notified us that he has been delayed.
Scotty smiled, Well, weve bought some time. Make good use of it solidifying your position.
The people have embraced our vision, Your Majesty. The name change and my reduction in rank have proven my good intentions. Everything is moving smoothly.
Thats good, Jeremiah. Keep me informed on your progress.
I will.
Scotty turned off his com and immediately received another beep, BC, whats up?
Your, Majesty, Grace has contacted me and requests you come see her as soon as possible.
Did she say why?
No she didnt but I sense its something serious.
Im bringing Julie this time. Let her know and teleport us aboard.
Scotty and Julie looked at the recording of the giant black ship on their display as Alex described it, Its force field is the strongest I have ever seen and that includes the strongest ships of the Stars Realm. The energy being used is of a different order of magnitude and the beams are just as formidable. They remind me of the ships that the Red Demons used to attack the Realm. The psychic ships were just barely able to defeat them and those ships are no longer available for us to use against them. They were taken by the Reg when they left.
Julie stared at the display shaking her head, Where did this ship come from?
It did not come from another universe. I believe it came from another dimension.
Scotty looked up, Is that significant?
Yes, it is. The Demons had eliminated all of the really powerful species in the universes but I dont believe they searched the dimensions for possible adversaries. It requires a truly advanced civilization to be able to travel between dimensions. It appears that whoever sent that ship has that level of technology and represents a grave danger to this universe.