Is that why were jumping around the edge of all these galaxies?
Yes, I want to see how far they will penetrate. It looks like my active scan can detect a ship more than ten light years out.
Thats good. That still doesnt tell me why youre looking at all these galaxies.
Timmy, this universe used to be filled with millions of planets that were members of the old Realm. I know that this sector has not been examined by King Borders, and Daulun just operated in his galaxy. I just think it might be a good idea to just take a quick look. We dont have much to do, so now would be a good time to do a little scouting.
Then quit making excuses and teleport into the middle of them and make a scan.
Greyson jumped and made a scan, Timmy, there is a battle taking place at a planet eight light years from here.
Lets go take a look.
Greyson emerged in stealth mode and scanned the attacking ships. Those ships were not made by the old Realm. I dont have anything like them in my databanks. They must have been manufactured since the Realm left.
Why do you say that?
Because they are using the beams and missiles of the old Realm but their ships do not have Power Cell hulls. They are also communicating in the language of the Realm.
What are they saying?
..You will stop firing or we will start destroying cities on the planets surface starting with the largest. Your fleet has been destroyed and you will not survive if you do not follow my instructions.
Weve seen what survival looks like under the rule of the Neriff. We prefer to die than be forced to endure your brutality.
If that is your wish, I am more than happy to comply. Ill start with your largest city.
Greyson?
Im on it.
A nuclear missile left the large ship and accelerated toward the planet. Just before it entered the atmosphere it exploded.
The invading fleets commander watched the missile explode and yelled, Launch six more at their six largest cities.
Six missiles erupted from the ships hull and started scattering as they targeted their targets. All six exploded halfway to the planet. The Commander watched his display and didnt see what had stopped the missiles. He hit his com and ordered, Land the transports and begin the looting.
You will exit this system and return from where you came. Any ship that moves toward the planet will be destroyed. You have been warned and I will not tolerate any failure to follow my instructions.
The planet and the attacking fleet heard the transmission and silence ruled the frequency. Where did that transmission originate.
The Sensor Officer looked at his panel and started shaking his head, I dont register anything on my board.
A voice came on the channel, Who are you? We thank you for your help but want to know who you are.
Stand-by, well communicate once this fleet has departed.
The Fleet Commander now knew that it wasnt the planet that had stopped his missiles. Whoever you are, you are interfering in something that does not concern you. Our rulers will not take this interference kindly.
I dont care how they take it. You will turn your fleet around and leave this system or I will start destroying your fleet starting with the closest ship to the planet and then start destroying every other ship one by one until you comply.
The Commander looked at his Sensor Officer who shook his head. He looked at his board and saw that one of his largest battleships was eight thousand miles from the planet and had its force field at full power. Then he heard, Times up. The battleship was hit with a bright white beam that vaporized it. One moment it was hanging in space and the next there was nothing but an expanding vapor cloud.
You now have one minute until the next ship is eliminated.
Get us out of here! Do it now!
The invading fleet of six hundred ships turned and began accelerating toward the jump limit. The Fleet Commander saw one of his ships remaining behind and yelled, Captain Delo, what are you doing?
I saw where those beams came from and Im firing on it.
The Commander knew that Delo was a nephew of one of the high rulers and was a hothead. He wanted command of the fleet and this was just another example of him disobeying orders. Get your ship out of there! He watched as Delo fired and saw the beams stop againstsomething. Then that terrible white beam hit and Delo and his ship were an expanding vapor ball.
The Commander looked at his Communications Officer and yelled, You better have a recording of what just happened.
I do.
His father and Uncle are going to want blood for this.
Then he heard, We will gladly give it to them if they return to this planet.
The Commander looked at his display and knew that whoever it was, they were able to scan through his screen. Move to maximum speed. The fleet arrived at the jump limit four hours later and disappeared.
Thank you for your assistance. We are the Priven and we have been fighting the Neriff for more than ten years. They have enslaved three of our colonies and killed more than forty percent of their populations while forcing them to do slave labor. They would have defeated us if you had not intervened.
It was the right thing to do. We do not condone the killing of those that cant defend themselves nor do we tolerate slavery in any form.
They will be back with a much larger fleet. You have only delayed the inevitable. Our ships have been destroyed and our installations above the planet have used up all of their ordinance holding them off. However, we do thank you for the additional time before they destroy us.
I notice that your planet is highly industrialized. Shouldnt you be able to produce the ships necessary to hold them off?
They are just too numerous. They have worn us down over the long years of fighting and now theres not enough time to replace the ships weve lost. They destroyed more than four hundred in the current battle.
Why didnt you just take the war to them instead of just waiting to be conquered?
We do not attack anyone except in self-defense. To leave our system would violate our beliefs. We were forced to build the warships to defend ourselves but we cannot use them away from our world.
Even to defend your colonies?
There was a long silence and then they heard, Even to defend our colonies. We have suffered because of that decision but just couldnt force ourselves to do it. By the time we decided to assist, they were overwhelmed and conquered. We waited until it was too late.
Timmy, that fleets jump tracks are still there.
Timmy thought a moment and then commed, Ill be back. I need to persuade that fleet not to return.
They will not listen.
I really hope they dont.
Greyson came out of stealth mode and the planet saw the huge ship just before it disappeared.
Greyson teleported to the jump limit, Do you think we should get permission before we get involved in this?
No, I do not. Timmy concentrated and thought, Virze, Nathan, James, are you available to assist me.
What do you need?
I just stopped a fleet from attacking a planet and nuking six of their cities. It appears that the attacker is in the business of slavery and I want to impress upon them that that behavior is not tolerated in this universe.
Stand-by.
What do you think hes doing?
The same thing I would do.
Timmy, what are you up to?
Im defending a planet that could not defend itself. Im sending you the record of everything that happened, Your Majesty. Timmy looked at his panel, Send it, Greyson.
Timmy, I hope he understands. We have more than we can handle with the anticipated invasion.
Greyson, if we start to ignore our values because were too busy, then we really dont believe in them. Even if he says no, were going.