“That’s true, Atlas. But then they would have settled into the system and began building a new hive and only one system would have been destroyed. What we’re facing now is the possible extermination of the Captors or of the entire Stars Realm if we lose the upcoming battle. Our billions of citizens know that we started this fight. If we then exterminate them, our member planets will lose the high regard they now have for our government. They will also begin to fear our government. They will lose faith in us.”
Cassandra said quietly, “Our members love Rose and Danielle.”
Tommy nodded, “Rose and Danielle will not live forever and our members will be quite nervous about who might replace them. As time goes by and our Queens age; that fear will become a reality for them.”
Sprig and Twig straightened up and Twig said, “You see it truly, Tommy. We have to try and save the Captors to save our own souls from what will happen if we destroy them.”
Tommy looked at Cassandra and she looked into his eyes. She hesitated and then lifted her com and said, “Lt. Ortiz, I am sending you some coordinates; once you receive them, bring the Kosiev to that location and wait for me to arrive. Shut down all out going communications until further notice.”
“Yes, Duchess Gardner. We will arrive in ten minutes.”
Atlas asked, “What are you going to do?”
Tommy replied, “We’re going to go and talk with a certain 4,000 mile wide Captor. Let’s hope he listens.”
The Kosiev arrived and Atlas flew into the landing bay where the two Algeans and Humans walked out to go to the bridge of the Kosiev. Tommy looked back at the landing bay and saw that Atlas had not left. “Atlas.”
“I’m going with you.”
“Good, I hoped you would.”
Cassandra looked at Tommy, “I suspect that the Realm’s Leadership might not like us taking these actions without their permission.”
Tommy sighed and thought, “Rose.”
“Yes, Tommy.”
“Cassandra and I along with the Algeans are going to the Captors system and try to open a dialogue with them.”
“I’m sorry, Tommy. I can’t allow that without you being supported by the fleet.”
“Rose, I’m not asking you if I can go; I’m going.”
Rose stopped what she was doing and stood up from her desk. “Tommy, as Queen of the
Stars Realm, I’m ordering you not to go.”
“Rose, do you remember when you told Dad that you were going to go with him to the final battle with the Algeans.” Rose didn’t say anything. “You didn’t ask; you told them you had to go and it was not an option. I have the same situation now and I am going to go. There is a remote chance that we can end this war and we have to take the risk. You can arrest us when, and if, we return. I love you, Rose. We are terminating all communications now.”
Rose thought, “Wait!” But she could tell that Cassandra had blocked all communications both electronically and psychically. “Mom, Dad, Tommy is going to the Captors home system to attempt to talk with them.”
“Are you serious,” Danielle thought. “They can’t go alone, they could be killed.”
Tag asked, “How long ago did he leave?”
“Just a few minutes ago; I ordered him not to go but he told me he had no choice.”
Danielle started to feel real fear, “What are we going to do?”
Tag could see that Tommy, like Kosiev years before, was going to do it alone. He feared that like before, Tommy would not survive. Tag pressed his com and said, “Alexander, contact Mikado and get the fleet ready for an emergency jump to the Captor’s system.”
Kosiev asked, “Why, what’s going on?”
“Tommy is going there to talk with them. We know that they won’t communicate but will try to destroy who ever attempts to contact them.”
“There is no way we can get the entire fleet ready, however I will see how many ships we can get together quickly. I’ll get Mikado on it immediately.”
Chapter 20
The First Male was jumping around the system making sure he did not present a target for the Stranger’s new missiles. He was talking with the Old Watcher. “Can you see anything in the energy nexus?”
“No, First Male, the particle that once existed in the center of the nexus has exploded and moved into another universe. There is nothing I can use to help us find the location of the Stranger’s home systems.”
“I’m concerned that you are stationary and not moving to avoid the Stranger’s missiles. I don’t want to lose you old friend.”
The Old Watcher paused and then said, “I’m getting too old to waste my energy flying around the system. It also appears that now that I can no longer read the nexus, I don’t really have a function in our society. For the first time in my life, I feel old, First Male.”
The First Male could feel the melancholy of the old Captor and he said, “Don’t be ridiculous; you’re only a little older than a hundred and fifty million years.”
“Maybe so, but I feel old. Even the stars energy no longer tastes good.”
The First Male thought, “You’re right about that.” The systems star had aged and no longer provided the high yield nourishment it one gave them.
Suddenly the First Male heard a voice. “I would like to talk with you about that, First Male.”
“Who are you,” the First male asked?
“I’m one of the Strangers that you have been fighting.”
The First Male extended his sensors to try and track from where the voice was coming but nothing was there to be traced. “How are you communicating with me?”
“I‘m doing it telepathically; you cannot trace it electronically so you might as well quit wasting your time trying.”
The First Male sent out a message to all of the warriors flying around the system to increase their speed and to change their routes randomly. “You don’t need to worry about us attacking you or your warriors at this time. I want to discuss a possible way for us to exist peacefully and stop all the needless killing.”
“I see no reason for us to communicate. We will find you and we will destroy you.”
“The voice sighed and then said, “I didn’t want to have to resort to heavy handed tactics but you leave me no choice. First Male, we can destroy you anytime we choose.”
Suddenly a white ship appeared beside the First Male and then it disappeared. The First Male felt a surge of fear. That ship was right next to his screen and could have fired on him and he would not have had time to escape. “I am not here to harm you, First Male but I need you to talk with me.”
The First Male was terrified. He knew there was immense danger but he couldn’t bring himself to talk with an enemy of his race. The Old Watcher said, “First Male, perhaps it’s time to think in a different pattern. It won’t hurt to see what he has to say.”
“You can hear him?”
“Yes, I can, First Male. I don’t want to lose one of my oldest friends. I’ve already lost so many during this conflict.”
The First Male slowed his thoughts and brought his fear under control. The first Mother thought to him, “Talk with him. We can’t lose you.”
The voice said, “We would also like to include you in this conversation, Your Majesty.”
The First Mother thought back, “I will listen in; the First Male is the one you will speak with.”
The Warriors flying around the system were approaching light speed moving in different directions trying to find the Stranger’s ship that had put the First Male in danger.
“We are no longer in your system, First Male. Tell your warriors that we will not attack you. I can feel their fear for you.”
“Then you know that they have no choice but to do what they’re doing.”
“I know; but I do not want to harm any of you. Do you know why we have been attacking you,” the voice asked?
“Why don’t you tell me?”
“Because we know that if one of our ships had accidently stumbled into your system you would have systematically destroyed our entire civilization.”