Tag looked at the group surrounding the table and said, “I have instructed the Algeans assigned to each of our members to carry out this order. I sincerely hope we are not forced to take this action but the probability of all members escaping is remote. Admiral, Gardner, do you have any other things you wish to bring to our attention.”
Matt stood, “I think it is absolutely critical that we determine whether or not we truly are invisible to them. We must have a ship in plain view at their point of entry. I also suggest a screened sensor be placed there far enough away to read their jump tracks and send them to Searchers. We will lose track of these ships if we don’t keep close tabs on their jumps.”
Tag frowned, “Carry out your plan accordingly.”
“I also think if we can build enough sensors in time that along with a Searcher assigned to each mother ship that comes we transmit the jump track to a sensor probe that will jump a light day distant from each mother ships jump and have it programmed to follow them each time they jump then send that information to a central location that will keep track of their movements. If we detect a jump to a member’s coordinates then we will move the planet as soon as they start moving inside the jump limit. If they stop and do not detect the planet and go elsewhere, the planet will stay where it is and remain hidden.”
Danielle looked at Sprig and he stood and thought, “We have more than fifty million sensor probes that can carry out that task. Fortunately, we have been screening them with red generators for over eight hundred years because of the more efficient power. We will begin building more; we don’t know how many of their ships will be coming.”
Tag looked at Matt with a serious expression and said, “Find out what will kill them, Searcher.”
“I will do my best to do just that, Your Majesty.”
“This meeting is adjourned. Use what time remains wisely.” Then Tag and Danielle left the room.
Stem looked at Al’s display showing the location in space where the Eight Legs were due to break out. Matt was on board Wings spending time with Angel before the conflict begun.
“Al, I fear we may not be successful against these creatures. The final advanced system has also remained dormant which may mean that the vessel we are preparing may not be used.”
“Stem, I believe that the final system will not activate until Matt is placed in an extremely high stressful situation. Cassandra told us that her abilities appeared when she found herself being stressed. The same is probably true with Matt.”
“I just don’t know if he will face a situation that would generate that kind of stress, Al.”
“Stem, you can trust me on this one; he is going to face a situation that will cause a huge amount of stress. I just don’t know when it will happen.”
Stem was silent for a moment and then thought, “Do you want to tell me what you know.”
“I can’t.”
“Well, my good friend, If it stresses him then I know you will also have to face it, too. If you need help, I’m here for you.”
“Thank you, Stem. I think we are both going to need all the help we can get.”
Chapter 10
INVASION
The huge green ship came out its universal jump and oriented to the closest galaxies. The Ship’s Male pressed a control and said, “What do your sensors indicate?”
“Of the three hundred closest galaxies, one of them appears to have a larger life signature indicating intelligence. All of them possess indications of intelligence.”
“Orient on the strongest source and prepare to investigate.”
“Notifying navigation immediately.”
The Ship’s Male pressed another control and announced, “Prepare yourselves to feed; the time is soon.” Throughout the thirty thousand mile wide globe, millions of shapes began to stir.
The Stars Realm Searcher Ship Orange Sky sat motionless a hundred miles from the giant vessel. Searcher Qingz pressed the activation control that energized the red screened probe and it immediately began looking for jump tracks. Quingz sat and watched and waited for what he knew was coming but refused to communicate until the huge ship jumped; he was uncertain if his communications would be detected. The green giant turned half a rotation and then disappeared in the silver-blue flash of a star drive.
“Fleet Command, this is Orange Sky reporting; the invader has jumped and I can confirm that our sensors do not detect their presence.”
“We’ll pass that information to the fleet, Searcher.”
“I can also confirm that I remained undetected a hundred trigs from their location.”
“We will also pass that along. The first probe has jumped to the invaders jump coordinates and is currently following them visually. It appears that they detected a planet with intelligent life.”
“I will remain on station until their next vessel appears, Fleet Command.”
“Carry on, Searcher Qingz.”
“Father.”
Yes, Stem”
“The Admiral was right; they do not appear on our sensors.”
“Notify Admiral Gardner; we are beginning operation blindfold.”
Stem turned and thought, “Magic, operation blindfold has been initiated.”
“How many ships are in the first group?”
“Six, they will follow the invaders in to the first planet they attack and visually record anything they see. It has been confirmed that our ships are invisible to them. We should see if they are using any new weapons that were not in the recording the Captor’s gave us. “
Matt sat in his command chair with his chin resting on his hand. He hesitated but then asked, “Who is in command?”
Stem looked at his instrument and said, “Searcher Angel Dodd, Admiral.”
Matt sat up straight and thought, “Angel, be careful following those ships in system.”
“I will, Magic. We’re not getting closer than the third moon and only when their entire fleet arrives at the planet.”
Matt put his chin back on his hand and closed his eyes. Al sensed Matt’s nervousness and watched what Matt was seeing in his mind. Stem had also noticed something bothering Matt but was uncertain about what it was.
Angel thought to her squadron, “Alright, listen up. We are going to wait until the mother ship has entered close orbit around the planet. We will then jump in no closer than this planet’s third moon. I will stop just above the moon’s surface and begin recording. I want the rest of you to teleport in the same distance but on different angles so we don’t miss anything happening on the planet. If any of the green ships start moving toward you, teleport out immediately, any questions?”
No one responded so Angel knew they understood what was required. The six Searchers waited ten hours until the mother ship finally arrived at the planet. Once the huge one hundred mile long transports began leaving the mother ship, Angel thought, “Port to you assigned locations in three seconds.”