Lorg loaded everything he had recorded into two microprobes and left a message that the range of those forts had to be determined. One of those probes was going to Mord and the other to the Stars Realm’s Command Center. He reported that he was teleporting to within fifty thousand miles of the planetary forts, firing a high speed penetrator at the planet, and then teleporting out at which time he would report. Lorg set his systems to teleport the two probes simultaneously with his attack. He placed his hand on the teleport button and pushed.
The Gamma ship came out of its silver screen and disappeared into dust. The two probes recorded Lorg’s death from the orbit above the last moon and then disappeared.
One of the Keepers on the closest fort to the Gamma’s destruction reported, “The system works. We have killed one of the ships attacking us at half of the beam’s range.”
The Collective received the message and knew that the stalemate would soon be over. The war was back on.
Jake sat in the map room at Castle Gardner and listened to a small device on the table in front of him. Valerie’s eighteenth birthday party was wrapping up, and he left her to say farewell to all the dignitaries, friends, and family. There was a huge surprise when Valerie announced her plans to marry Jake Talant, and everyone congratulated them as the Realm pondered the ramifications of that union. Valerie was still an unknown to most of the Realm’s members, and no one had ever heard of the man she was marrying. The various news agencies began reporting about the events in which Jake had taken part and showed video of the defense of the colonies that were rescued from the Keepers. After seeing the destruction Jake had caused to the Keepers, the Realm was actually more curious about him than the new queen, and everyone started scrambling to gather any information about this handsome human and his background.
Those videos were eye-opening, and those in the military of the Realm that had not already viewed them were more amazed than the citizens. They knew he had done things that a normal Red Warrior could never do.
Jake just sat in the library and listened to the small device on the table, unaware of the attention being given to him. Valerie finally walked in and sat down in his lap, “I’m sorry it took so long.”
“I understand, Val; duty comes first.”
“What are you doing, Jake?”
“I saw in the Realm’s early history where Anglo Gardner discovered a vault in one of the ancient cities called Chicago and found some cigars. I was hoping some were left to celebrate this moment.”
“Did you find any?”
Jake shook his head, “No, but I did find some music that was recorded on circular discs. I asked our science department to transfer it to one of our devices so I could see what they listened to fifteen thousand years ago.”
Valerie smiled, “Was anything worth listening to?”
Jake removed his headphones and looked into Valerie’s eyes. “I found one bit of music that made me think of the first moment I saw you. It was recorded by an artist named Rick James, who must have been a great balladeer of his time, and it touched my soul.”
“What was the title?”
“It’s actually two songs joined together; This Magic Moment and Dance with Me.” Jake turned on the sound and started the recording. As the first strains of “This Magic Moment” began, he stood, took Valerie in his arms, and held her close.
Valerie listened to the lyrics with the music and marveled at its beauty. Jake started moving around the library with her as the song moved into Dance with Me. She lost herself in his arms. Valerie whispered in Jake’s ear, “It’s beautiful, and I love you with all my heart.” The two continued dancing in the map room lost in each other; forgetting, momentarily, Keepers, death, and destruction.
Admiral Busigleore watched the recording sent by the Cainth Pilot that had been killed attacking the new Keepers’ shipbuilding planet. This was material that was used to make nightmares. He thought for a long moment, then hit his com, “Valerie, I need to see you and Jake as soon as possible.”
Valerie appeared on his com, “What’s wrong, Manny?”
“The Keepers have found a way to defend their planets and release their ships. They are beginning to modify their fleet, and it’s only a matter of time before they launch an attack on the Realm in force.”
Valerie got a scared expression and said, “Bring what you have and meet Jake and me in the Library.”
“On my way.”
“Jake, I need you to meet Manny in the library; now.”
Jake was on the top floor of the castle looking out at Ross and its huge city, “What’s wrong?”
“You’ll be filled in when you arrive.”
Jake walked over to a door, punched the library button, and stepped into the library just as Manny teleported in. Manny said, “I’ve set the recording into a download and I need you to look at it.”
Jake and Valerie put on the headphones and the entire recording was transmitted to their brains in less than ten seconds.
“We still have no way of killing their ships, and they will be coming here soon.”
Jake looked at Manny and asked, “Have you sent another ship to see what’s happening at that planet?”
“Yes, and the only change so far is that the two hundred ships being modified are still there.”
“How long has it been since the destruction of that Gamma?”
“Thirty six hours.”
Jake thought a moment and said, “We have some time to prepare.” Valerie started to respond, but Jake continued, “If they take more than two days to convert two hundred ships, it will take three years to modify a hundred thousand. The only way to speed up the process is to build those facilities at their other home worlds. That will take some time, so we have a period to get ready for their assault.”
Manny shook his head, “What can we do? None of our weapons will work against them and their new ships have a screen that will protect them from the slicing beam, which is the only thing we’ve found that will penetrate their hulls.”
Jake looked at Valerie and said, “I need you to call Edison and Sprig to come here to this meeting.”
“Joe also needs to be here.”
“That’s fine, Valerie; just make it happen quickly. I need to take a look at those history records again. Let me know when they arrive.” Jake went over to the couch, put the headphones on, and closed his eyes.
“What is he doing, Valerie?”
Valerie smiled, “I have no idea, but I have faith it will help us.”
Manny shook his head, “I’m afraid nothing will help us. Joe contacted me just before I teleported in and said that there has been a development he needs to handle.”
“Do you know what it is?”
“No. It must be important, and I’m sure he’ll notify us once he gets it handled.”
Valerie almost contacted Joe, but decided to focus on the issue at hand.
An hour later Sprig arrived with Twig in tow, and Edison joined the group with Newton arriving ten minutes later. Sprig looked at Valerie and asked, “What’s going on?”
Valerie played the recording of the new Keepers’ shipbuilding facilities at high speed and saw that the Algeans and Spiders were concerned. Edison said, “This is not good. If they free up their fleet, then we are all in grave danger.”
Valerie went over, turned Jake’s download off, and said, “I know. I think Jake has an idea, but he didn’t want to be disturbed before your arrival.”
Jake opened his eyes and sat up. He looked at Sprig and Twig and said, “I have just looked at the history of the war between you and the Stars Realm. Your fleet destroyed one of the Realm’s fleets in one of the early battles.”
Sprig and Twig’s leaves turned brown, “We did a lot of things during that era for which we are very ashamed.”
“Sprig, you prevented that fleet from jumping to safety through the use of a frequency generator. Do you still have that technology?”