Tag waited for Atlas to respond and after a long wait he asked, Atlas, what are you thinking?
I think that my masters race is gone today because we did not value life as you do. The virus that killed them was a development of a weapon they used to eradicate a rather nasty life form that consumed all it came into contact with. After that it became easier for my masters race to eliminate races that they decided were not worth living. My masters eventually after a million years became loners that explored the universe by themselves and avoided contact with each other. They didnt like being around other masters. It wasnt always like that. I think it began with the eradication of that first race after the plant creatures were defeated.
They killed every member of that species? Tag asked.
No, Atlas said. Some of their spores survived and the race came to life again several million years ago long after my masters had died.
Tag felt something move inside his chest. Atlas, where is that race now?
They are in a Galaxy located just beyond the constellation you call horse head.
Are they dangerous?
Yes, I guess you could say they are. They have killed every civilization theyve contacted in that Galaxy and have used up most of its natural resources.
Atlas, will they move in our direction?
Atlas was silent and after two minutes said, I dont know. They have interstellar technology. I dont know.
How do we match up to their technology, Atlas? Danielle asked.
You are slightly ahead of them with your power cells, but they number in the trillions.
Do you have any video of them?
Yes. Let me look thru my files and Ill prepare one for you. Why, are you worried?
If they, like you say, consume everything they contact, then they are like a cancer. It sounds like this particular cancer cell is about to divide. It is just a matter of time until they find us. What happens then?
My masters could defeat them because of their technology, but eventually had to resort to the virus because of their numbers. They just got tired of being bothered by their constant attacks. I do see where youre going, Tag. Why do you want the video?
To show my government that the real threat is not the Alliance; we shouldnt wait until they come after us. We have to do something about this. My children will not face this threat if I can prevent it. Do you have a picture of one of them?
Tag saw an image appear on his display; Danielle could see it thru Tags mind. Oh my God, Danielle said. The creature looked like a green wingless mantis. It had bulging eyes and the mouth had two large mandibles that looked like two sabers. It walked up right and had two arms with four digits ending in sharp nails. The legs were huge and appeared to bend in two directions. It had a tail that looked like an alligators that helped it balance. Danielle shuddered and then asked, Atlas you mentioned that these creatures came from spores. They look a lot like insects on our world that lay eggs.
They are not animal, Danielle. They are much closer to what you would call algae. The spores they create are about 21 inches in diameter and must be fertilized by a male. The spores that hatched must have been on one of their ships when it was destroyed and they stayed in the vacuum of space for millions of years before they fell on a planet. They can survive in very hostile environments. What makes them formidable adversaries is that like some of your plants, they can regenerate lost body parts. The only way to effectively kill one is to destroy the brain case that is located in their chest. These creatures will eat pretty much anything that is organic and their appetite is voracious.
Tag looked at the display with great distaste and then said, Are they intelligent?
Yes, but they will not communicate with anyone except another member of their race even when captured and threatened with death. I saw one of your old recordings of a swarm of locusts and that is pretty close to how they operate.
Tag wondered for the first time if all life was precious. A cancer cell was alive but it would kill its host. The cancer had to be destroyed in order for the host to live. This was the embodiment of a living cancer cell that killed all it contaminated. He could sense that Danielle was thinking the same way. Well come back to this if and when we solve our issues with the Alliance. I doubt that their leaders will take what weve done without a response.
While youre doing that, I think Im going to take a trip out toward the Horse Head and see what this race is currently doing. If you need me just throw me a thought.
Be careful, Atlas. Danielle said. We dont want to lose you.
Ill keep my distance but now you have me thinking and I feel a trip is warranted.
Sten was in his office when he received the call from the Safety Prime Council. The leader of the council appeared on his display and Sten felt his two hearts speed up. State Leader, I understand that the Humans have communicated with you.
Yes, Excellency, they have. Im to understand that they broadcast their conversation to all members.
They did. How do you account for their superior technology? They represent what we fear the most, a race that is so technologically superior that they could defeat our entire Alliance. How many warships do we have in our total arsenal, State Leader?
Sten could see where the council leader was going but he answered. Our members have more than 40,000.
That should be enough to wipe these Humans out, wouldnt you say.
Sten considered his answer carefully and then said, I fear that if Im truthful with you that it will cost me my life, but to do anything else would be to fail in my responsibility. In the first battle, 200 Human ships defeated 1,800 of our ships. Thats a nine to one ratio. In the next battle, 900 of their ships destroyed 4,000 of our ships. Thats almost 5 to one ratio. Six hundred of their ships jumped into our system and destroyed almost 6,000 ships. That is a ten to one ratio again. Our fleet that invaded the Human system reports that the humans had more than 7000 war ships and that a new class of battleship able to jump in system to the atmosphere of our planet was recorded. Three hundred of those ships jumped in and were surrounding my planet. They could have totally destroyed all life if they chose. We have no idea how many of those new battleships they have. We thought they had only ninety to a hundred ships left. We were wrong. At our rates of loss to the Humans just assuming a seven to one we would need 50,000 ships and that doesnt take into consideration that new class of battleship. My educated guess is that 70,000 ships could not defeat their fleet. If we choose to attack them with every ship, then even if we managed to win, which I greatly doubt, we will be so weakened that it would allow our members to turn on each other in retribution of past acts.
The Council Leader just stared out of his screen at Sten and said, Perhaps youre too timid to occupy the post youre assigned.
Sten felt a rage building and said, Excellency, why dont you have the next fleet form up at your planet and see if Im timid. The Humans could have totally wiped out the 17,000 ships we sent against them and they could have totally bombarded my world to ash. They did neither. They did warn us that the next time we gather a fleet that they will destroy those responsible. Are you willing to gamble your world against whether or not they can carry out their threat? I will have my resignation sent to you immediately.
The Council Leader disappeared from the screen. Sten sat in his office after he commed his resignation for more than nine drags while he waited for the security team to come and arrest him. He refused to go home and endanger his family but after he had spent the rest of the night waiting, he notified his assistant of his resignation and left for his home.
Headman Dgzh looked at the Glods home world thru the viewport of his ship as it approached. He had jumped into the system 10 hours earlier. He saw on his ships sensors that his ship was surrounded quickly after he broke into normal space. The dreadnaught that challenged him was unlike any ship he had ever seen. It was white with its screen extending more that a trig from its hull. It had the characteristic glow of the Human screen and it flashed up on his ships at a speed that amazed him. The 3,700 deg ship was actually beautiful in its smooth lines that lacked the normal bulges and bumps from weapon ports. Looks like the Glod have become much more powerful. He felt a chill from that realization because he knew the ferocity of their warriors.