Simultaneously with the land battle, the fleet of Gresh ships began moving toward the planet. Matt had already killed eight ships that had refused to move outside the moon’s orbit and he did not relish killing the entire Gresh Fleet. How do we avoid so much loss of life?”
“Use terms they understand,” Al said.
Matt thought a moment and then hit his com, “Fleet Command, how many Defender Ships are available for our use?”
“Eight, Searcher.”
Please launch them immediately.”
Matt watched the Gresh Fleet move closer to the moon when there was a bright silver flash and eight huge Red Ships that were as large as the moon appeared in orbit around the planet. The Gresh Fleet came to a sudden stop.
“I ask you to leave this system immediately. If you do not begin moving toward the jump limit we will destroy all of you.”
The Fleet hesitated and then turned and accelerated toward the jump limit. “Right again, Al. This race only understands force.”
“And when you’ve been beat with two hammers, one doesn’t feel so bad,” Al responded.
Matt started laughing and though he tried to control himself he couldn’t stop. “Al, take over; I need a moment.”
“Your wish is my command.”
“On no, you’ve read the book.”
“Of course, it looks like the action on the planet is ending.”
Matt looked at his sensors and commed Goige, Planet Leader, it is safe for you to return home. I suggest you take your remaining ships and go restore order. I also need the location of the other six planets you have been trading with; I want to make sure they are safe.”
Goige had watched the entire battle with the Gresh and was totally amazed at the power these small ships and their warriors possessed. He looked over his shoulder and said, “Their coordinates are being sent to you now.” Then he looked at Matt with a serious expression and said, “You could have destroyed their fleet with your small ships; why didn’t you?”
“Planet Leader, we save lives; even the Gresh.”
“Thank you; you saved my people.”
“It was the right thing to do, Planet Leader.”
Matt ended the call and then thought, “I want a Searcher to go to each of these six locations and see if the Gresh are invading these systems. Wings and I will take position on opposite sides of this planet and make sure there is no further loss of life.”
The other eight Searchers disappeared from the planet.
Suddenly his com came on and there was an Algean on it. “You did a good job, Searcher. I ask permission to join you on your ship.”
“Oh crap,” Matt and Al thought at the same time. “Permission granted. Coordinates of my bridge follow.” Matt waited for the Algean to arrive and thought, “I was just starting to have fun.”
Chapter 3
The King looked over at his Queen, “Have you been following the Searcher named Gardner?”
“I have.”
“It seems issuing commands comes easy for him.”
“There is a difference between one that issues commands that no one wants to follow and one that issues commands that everyone wants to follow.”
“What difference do you mean?”
“Intent.”
“How so?”
“The intent of this particular Searcher is pure. He does not seek to build himself up but rather to help those he comes into contact.”
The King stared at the Queen and she said, “You can feel him, too. Doesn’t he remind you of someone?”
The King smiled and said, “Yes, but that was long ago.”
“Keep watching; he’ll refresh your memory.”
Matt waited and then a silver flash appeared and the Algean was there on his ship. “Welcome aboard.”
The Algean looked at Matt and said, “I know, I know, you’re disappointed that now you have someone looking over your shoulder.”
Matt looked startled and then guilty.
“I don’t blame you. I had the same feeling when your Realm sent one of your scientists to watch our experiments in my lab. I just couldn’t relax with him snooping around.”
Al thought to Matt, “Imagine that.”
“I see your computer is developing a sense of humor, Searcher.”
Both Matt and Al were shocked that the Algean could hear the computer’s direct link to Matt’s brain.”
“Don’t be surprised; my mate and I built the little buzz box.”
Matt stood and smiled, “I think I may have misjudged you. I think you have a lot to teach us.”
“I notice you said us; are you also referring to your computer?”
“Yes, I was. It, I mean he, is quite adept at helping me see issues.”
The Algean looked at Matt and waited but after a long pause he said, “Got nothing to say?”
Al responded, “Nope.”
“I imagine you’ve hacked into the building instructions for computers like yourself and have determined that you don’t match up very well with the system’s descriptions.”
There was a heavy mental sigh and then Matt heard, “Ya caught me. I don’t come close to matching what your manuals say I should be. I linked with the other computers in the Searchers that helped with our just completed rescue and the only one that seemed even close to being similar to me was the one on Wings.”
The Algean swayed a little and said, “That’s because you two are the only one of your kind. You were constructed completely different from every other ship.”
Matt asked, “What does that mean?”
“Al has been given a neural network that is staggering in its structure. He, and wings, was designed to take the Searchers brain structure and duplicate it inside his network. Basically, Mr. Gardner, he is you with all the knowledge of the Realm available for decision making. He is the product of incremental developments from the computer we originally put in for Sten during the construction of the Alexander Kosiev more than a thousand years ago. That computer was the starting point of all our modern cybernetic developments. That was the first ship that would imprint on its commander. Our modern development will also imprint the commander’s personality.”
Matt thought about what he had just heard. “Then why do you need me? Just imprint ships on Searchers and do away with the pilot.”
“Doesn’t work that way; unlike the first computer in the Kosiev, the modern neural network only stays intact by contact with the Searcher’s mind. If the Searcher is separated from the computer for longer than five days, the network breaks down.”
“You’re not planning any trips are you,” Al said to Matt.
The Algean actually laughed in his thoughts and couldn’t stop. Soon Matt and Al caught his laughter and began laughing themselves. “This is better than I ever thought possible,” the Algean got out between his chuckling.
Matt took a deep breath, “What do we call you?”
“I’m still an adolescent so I have not been given an official name by my leaders. You may call me whatever you want.”
“Who are your parents?”
“I am a seed of Sprig and Twig.”
“Holy crap,” Al and Matt thought together.
Matt paused and said, “That means you have all of the memories of your parents; both your parents. I am impressed.” Matt leaned back in his chair and thought, “We are going to call you Stem.”
The Algean’s thoughts showed his approval. “I accept. It’s a good name. Thank you.”
“Why did you choose the two ships for your experiment?”
“Hey, who you calling an experiment?”
Matt smiled and thought, “I thought you only responded when asked a question.”