“Then we can try to draw them away,” Danielle said.
“It won’t work, Your Majesty. Their pattern is to move in system and release more than two million of the small ships to remove any resistance. The mother ship continues right to the planet and releases the real weapons which are those hundred mile long troop carriers. You would have to use more than four million ships to distract them with weapons that have no affect on them. They will ignore us but they are going to wonder where all those ships came. They will not leave our universe until they find out. You only insure our discovery to attack them on that scale. Please, think about doing what you’re suggesting and tell me what you sense.”
Tag, Danielle, and Anglo closed their eyes and Tag immediately said, “He’s right. The danger is higher than I’ve ever sensed.”
Danielle opened her eyes and said, “I can see it, too.”
“I sense them finding us within a year of us using a massive attack without effective weapons. I also believe that they are here early because they know it took a highly advanced life form to explode the particle. They still may not leave until they find a civilization advanced enough to have caused it.”
“Is there anything else, Searcher,” Anglo asked?
Matt looked at Angel and then at Sprig and said, “I’ve wondered why these creatures only attack intelligent life. I worry that by absorbing the brains of their victims that they may be able to see anything that their victim knows.”
Everyone in the room showed the shock they felt at that revelation. Matt continued, “If they consume one member of our navy, they will know everything about us. We cannot allow that to happen. I am requesting a Royal Decree that any member of our armed forces that faces the possibility of capture by these creatures must prevent it at all possible costs.”
“Are you saying they should commit suicide?”
“I’m saying it would be better than what we see in that recording. Our ships have to have a self destruct mechanism.”
Tag and Danielle looked at each other and Tag stood and said, “You have given us a lot to ponder. We should think about what you have said and make some decisions. We will end this meeting now and continue in three days. Everyone is charged with thinking of what we can do against this menace. Matt, what if they capture a planet of the Realm and absorb what the leaders know? Does that mean the planet should be destroyed before the Eight Legs land?”
“I’ve thought about that, Your Majesty. I just didn’t want to be the one to mention it.”
Danielle looked at him and said, “I understand why.”
“Sprig, we need you to help us.”
“What’s the problem?”
“A searcher came by the construction site and was pushed away from the construct.”
“What?”
“The exterior lit up and the searcher was pushed twenty yards back. Only the exterior came active, the control room remained dark.”
Sprig thought for a moment. Are there any other developments?”
“Yes. It appears a second chair has appeared in the control room.”
Sprig thought and then said, “I want every Searcher to be given a coordinate four hundred yards above the moon. Have them start jumping in and see if anything in the control room shows activity.”
“It will be done. However, we are no longer able to mold the material. It seems to have frozen in its current position. It froze the moment the second chair appeared.”
“Then we need to find the occupant needed for the second chair. I believe the ship is waiting. Start with Angel Dodd.”
“We will begin immediately.”
“Matt, are you busy?”
“No, Angel, what do you need.”
“You, of course, but the Algeans have ordered us to jump to a coordinate and jump away. I have been selected to go first. Do you know what’s going on?”
Matt thought a moment, “No. but I’m sure it has something to do with ship development.”
“Ok, as soon as I finish the trip, I’ll come and visit.”
“That would be great, Angel. Remember we have the second meeting in two days.”
“I’ll be ready. See you later.”
“Bye, Love.”
“Do you think it has something to do with the ship the Algeans are building?”
“I don’t know, Al. You must think I’m psychic or something.”
Al started laughing and then Matt joined in. “That always cracks me up.”
“Me, too, Al.”
“Have you had any new visions?”
“No, just the one.”
“Has it cleared up?”
“No, I don’t know when it’s going to happen.”
“That is possibly a good thing.”
“I can’t say I disagree with you. She’ll be here shortly so liven up.”
“Don’t worry; it’s easy to laugh when Angel shows up.”
“Don’t you mean Fly Girl?”
“Same thing, Magic.”
“I know.”
“Leader Twig, we have found the other occupant. The ship is now continuing development.”
“Keep me informed, Elder Engineer.”
“I will do so.”
The Meeting began with Tag standing and looking at the group around the table. He looked over to his right and Anglo pressed a button that lowered a huge display screen. The Screen showed the meeting room with everyone sitting around the table. “This is a video that is being broadcast to the leaders of every member planet in the Realm. We are going to discuss some serious subjects and The Queen and I feel that every member should know what we decide here today. We have sent every member notification of this schedule and I think every planet has its leaders watching. What we have decided has not been an easy decision for us but our prime responsibility is to protect the citizens of the Realm. With that in mind, one of the possibilities that we discussed in our last planning meeting was that the Eight Legs may have access to the memories of anyone they consume. The Queen and I have thought hard about this possibility and, as most of you know, we possess a psychic skill at being able to foretell coming danger. That sense is why we contacted most of the new members in order to save them. When we look at taking one of two courses of action, our sense tells us that the danger level rises higher than we have ever sensed if we follow one. We both know as truth that the Eight Legs do access the memories of those they harvest. I want all the planets of the Realm to consider what would happen if the Eight Legs uncover just one member planet and take all that they know.” The King paused and let that thought hang heavy in the air. “It would lead to every other planet being uncovered by the invaders and also tell them how we have hidden them. The invasion of just one of our members would lead to the destruction of all the other millions.”
Danielle stood and everyone saw her looking from the screen at them, “As a result of that, we have made a decision that must be followed in order to protect the Realm. Any member planet that has the Eight Legs enter their atmosphere will be totally destroyed by the screen generator being used to hide it.” No one said a word. On all the member planets their leaders sat in silence pondering what they had just learned. “We will of course move planets to save them from this possibility but there is a chance that one or more of our members will still be attacked. We have determined that our current weapons may not be effective against these creatures and if that is the case, we cannot stop them from their invasion of a planet. I must say that if I had a choice of instant destruction or dying in the fangs of the invaders, I would choose the fast way. Once these creatures land on a planet, no one escapes. They have the means to find every intelligent being no matter how one may try to hide. It is with a heavy heart that we come to this decision; however, it is our sworn duty to save life. We see no other way to do it. In the event the Realm’s existence is otherwise discovered we will cancel this order. However, you the leaders of each planet will still be given the option to use the generator if you want to save your people from the gruesome death of being consumed alive. If any of you wish to discuss this decision with us, please notify us and we will talk with you. However, please think about whether or not you would want your planet endangered if another planet was attacked. Thank you for your time and it is with great sorrow that we are made to take this step in the defense of the Realm.” Danielle looked and Anglo and the screen went dark.