The Ships Commander received his quadrant to search and motioned to his navigator. The Black Ship disappeared. The small fragments of the Bristone continued to travel away from the center of the ships destruction. The final micro probe waited and then teleported to deep space after all of the giant ships disappeared.
Chapter Thirteen
Vring, Bleath, Scotty, Julie, and Robby sat at the fire watching the flames dance in the center of the clearing. The Robbins had walked up to the fire to remember the two brave sailors that had died. Vring and Bleath flew in. They were listening to their thoughts and felt the need to join them. They all just stared at the fire in silence. Jingo and Grang walked up and sat down and watched the fire. Timmy and Virze arrived and joined the gathering. James Silvey and Carol walked up and sat down beside Timmy and Virze. The only sound was the wood crackling in the fire. Scotty looked up at the stars and said, The first night I met Niles and Toland was right here at this fire. They volunteered to go take the Military Database from Daulun. I knew at that moment that they were good men. There were many nights both of them sat here and stared up at the stars. Vring tells me that they felt incredible remorse at all the worlds they had helped conquer for Daulun. This assignment was their attempt to start to balance their debt.
Scotty paused and said, They decided before they went on this assignment that they couldnt risk coming back to our universe. If their jump track was recorded by the Invaders, then we would have been attacked immediately. They refused to take that risk. They also refused to reveal our most powerful weapon to defend themselves when they discovered it would weaken our ships if the Invaders strengthened their force fields to handle that beam. Because of their sacrifice, we now know what we need to do to prepare. Scotty stood up and looked up at the stars, We will honor them tomorrow.but tonight we will remember them in silence. He sat back down and lowered his head and wept for the sacrifice he had asked of the two brave warriors. Julie put her arms around his shoulders and hugged him tight.
Robby watched his father and saw the price of being a leader. He hoped he would have the courage to make such hard decisions if it ever came to him to lead. He looked up at the stars and wished Dani was here. He heard a distant thought that barely touched his consciousness, Ill always be close by.
Dani was staring at Robbys picture she kept by her bed and felt sad. She wondered what he was doing and wished he was there. Ill always be close by, Robby. She rolled over and went to sleep.
Robby knew she was feeling his sorrow. He smiled and thought, Im waiting on you, my love.
Dani rolled over and smiled in her sleep.
The gathering continued to grow and more wood was put on the fire. Soon the Zord started arriving in large numbers and the only sound was the crackling of the flames.
Nine Zeta Searcher Vessels were gathered at the Defense Facility. Scotty was on board BC with Jingo, Grang, and Julie. Robby was on board Greyson with Timmy. Ive gathered all of us here with Alex so we can decide what we need to do about the Orange Beings coming to invade our universe. I think all of us have had time to view the information send back by Niles and Toland. Does anyone want to start the discussion?
Alex said, It appears we need to relook our weapons mix.
Scotty said, Why is that?
What happens if the invaders refuse to fire on our ships once they learn we are using their beams to destroy them? I think we should hold that weapon until the last possible moment when they send their biggest fleet here.
What do we use in the mean time?
Grace, we now know that a Zeta Beam will penetrate their force field for a moment. It wont hit the ship but it opens a door to send other weapons through.
Are you referring to the ancient penetrators that had small missiles inside them?
No, Timmy. Im referring to sending a Flyer through the opening.
Scotty said, What! That doesnt make sense, Alex. The Zord cant fly in the vacuum of space.
Youre forgetting the Rider as well, Your Majesty. Let me explain. Bleath, you and Vring may join in anytime.
We will but wed rather you explain our proposal.
Alex paused and continued, Grace tells me that you are reluctant to use armor for our Riders.
I am. Im not certain that we need to release that technology in this universe. Its just too dangerous.
But youre ok with building Searchers.
Uhhh, I think we have to have them for our defense.
Is it also because you trust their use with a good partner assisting them?
Yesssss, I think the checks and balances with the two make them safer.
How do you Searcher Vessels feel about that?
Greyson said, Even a good partner will not always prevent us being used for evil purposes. We need look no further than the Provincial Dukes that lied to us and led us into an evil enterprise.
Scotty said, Thats true, but once you saw the truth you were able to make a good decision.
After hundreds of worlds had been enslaved and forty million killed on Haldale, Your Majesty. Even we can be dangerous if the right circumstances cause us to be led astray.
Scotty thought about what Greyson was saying, Alex, are you telling me that we should allow armor to be introduced in this conflict?
Im just saying that there are no absolutes in any weapon turned loose in this universe. What is the one thing that prevents them from being used for evil?
I think making sure that they never fall into the wrong hands.
Then consider this; who would you trust with an all powerful weapon system.
Robby said, Thats easy.
Scotty said, Who?
The Zord.
Scotty smiled, Youre right, son. I would trust the Zord to do the right thing in any circumstance.
Bleath said, You cant say that, Your Majesty.
Why not?
Remember, we were planning a long and painful death for Grang. You stopped us. I was also planning to attack your community before Samuel killed those three teenagers. Sometimes we are also blind to events.
Then who, Alex?
The Flyers. The Zord and their Riders can always be trusted to do the right thing. The two of them together are just as effective as a Searcher and their partner. You know how every Rider is screened and trialed to make sure they truly believe in the values of our Empire.
Alex, I notice you said, Our.
I did. I am now accepting your authority over my facility. Ive seen that you are even more careful with how my technology would be used than I am. Ive learned I can trust you. Ive also seen that your chosen successors will also follow your vision.
Timmy looked at his display and saw Virze nod. He smiled and felt his love for his wife.
So what are you suggesting?
Vring said, We are going to armor the Flyers. No one said anything. Vring waited and said, We have looked at the armor chamber and discovered that it can be modified to armor a Zord as well as any other species. The DNA protocols have to be changed but that is not hard to accomplish. We have also made modifications so that it wont be so painful to make the process work.
How will that help us against the Invaders?
There is a ten foot hold in their force field when a Zeta beam hits it. Well teleport a Flyer through that hole and the Zord and Rider will teleport in to the giant ships hull and attack the ship.
Jingo said, With what? Claws and sparks wont do damage to those ships.
Robby said, Jingo, armor can hold enough weapons in the outer skin to fight for a year. With the wing span of a Zord being close to two hundred feet, some pretty big missiles can be loaded in. Once theyre inside the force field they can launch a devastating barrage ahead of them. Once an armored rider gets to the ships hull, the amount of destruction possible is staggering.